Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
Engagement in research has become increasingly recognised as a ‘high impact’ tool for undergraduate engagement in learning. A cross-disciplinary study of 151 students at a research-intensive university, using an established framework and survey instrument, explored students’ perceptions of research in undergraduate programs. It identified high levels of student awareness of research, experience of research, and a range of positive and negative impacts of staff research on learning. Statistically significant differences in students’ perceptions across disciplines were identified. Engagement in research was seen to be a valuable and effective way to learn, with students appreciating the ‘teaching- research nexus’ and the benefits to learning of their teachers’ research activity.
Keywords: undergraduate research; teaching-research nexus