A synthesis of the literature on research methods education

The purpose of this research synthesis is to examine the current research on teaching and learning research methods. The aims are to understand the themes present in the current literature and identify gaps in our understanding of how we teach, and how students learn, research methods. A synthesis of 89 studies generated three themes: (1) characteristics of students taking a research methods course, (2) teaching methods and techniques, and (3) content and course goals. Gaps identified include a lack of research on assessment and on what and how students learn in research methods courses. The majority of studies reviewed were teacher reports of attempted teaching strategies so that an additional need exists for other types of research into the teaching and learning of research methods such as case studies of students' learning or experimental studies of assessment techniques. Suggestions for instructors and future research are considered.

[1]  L. Pelco,et al.  Teaching Research Methods to Undergraduate Psychology Students Using an Active Cooperative Learning Approach , 2006 .

[2]  Glen R. Jarboe,et al.  Learning by doing: group projects in research methods classes , 1996 .

[3]  E. Lehtinen,et al.  “Do I need research skills in working life?”: University students’ motivation and difficulties in quantitative methods courses , 2008 .

[4]  Kathleen M. T. Collins,et al.  Aptitude by Treatment Interactions and Matthew Effects in Graduate-Level Cooperative-Learning Groups , 2003 .

[5]  Barbara B. Kawulich,et al.  Teaching Research Methods in the Social Sciences , 2012 .

[6]  S. Lipscomb,et al.  Graduate Music Students' Attitudes toward Research , 2005 .

[7]  J. Sachs.  A Path Model for Students' Attitude to Writing a Thesis , 2002 .

[8]  Rachel Spronken-Smith,et al.  Implementing a Problem-Based Learning Approach for Teaching Research Methods in Geography , 2005 .

[9]  Jane F. Dye,et al.  Constant Comparison Method: A Kaleidoscope of Data , 2000 .

[10]  Stephen G. Wieting.  Simulated Research Experiences for Use in Teaching Research Methods , 1975 .

[11]  Sarah Polkinghorne,et al.  Research is a Verb: Exploring a New Information Literacy-Embedded Undergraduate , 2010 .

[12]  L. Moulding,et al.  Graduate Students' Understanding of Educational Research in a Master of Education Program. , 2010 .

[13]  Bryan E. Denham.  Teaching Research Methods to Undergraduates , 1996 .

[14]  Susan R. Takata,et al.  Learning by Doing: The Teaching of Sociological Research Methods. , 1987 .

[15]  Chin-Chung Tsai,et al.  An educational research course facilitated by online peer assessment , 2009 .

[16]  Elizabeth M. Rash.  A service learning research methods course. , 2005, The Journal of nursing education.

[17]  Humberto E. Fabelo-Alcover.  A Model for Teaching Research Methods Based on Cognitive-Behavioral and Social Learning Theories , 2002 .

[18]  E. Lehtinen,et al.  Conceptions of Research and Methodology Learning , 2005 .

[19]  Josephine Barraket,et al.  Teaching Research Method Using a Student-Centred Approach? Critical Reflections on Practice. , 2005 .

[20]  Julia C. Phillips,et al.  Research Self-Efficacy, the Research Training Environment, and Research Productivity among Graduate Students in Counseling Psychology , 1994 .

[21]  M. Greenwald.  Teaching Research Methods in Communication Disorders , 2006 .

[22]  D. Stacks,et al.  The communication investigator: Teaching research methods to undergraduates , 1991 .

[23]  D. Zablotsky,et al.  WHY DO I HAVE TO LEARN THIS IF I'M NOT GOING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL? TEACHING RESEARCH METHODS IN A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF AGING COURSE , 2001 .

[24]  Deborah Blackman,et al.  Can Research Methods Ever Be Interesting? , 2003 .

[25]  E. Murphy,et al.  A triad of research roles: experiential learning in an undergraduate research course. , 1999, Journal of Nursing Education.

[26]  Kim G. Lie,et al.  Supporting diverse learners through a website for teaching research methods , 2001, J. Educ. Technol. Soc..

[27]  A. Onwuegbuzie,et al.  Role of Study Skills in Graduate-Level Educational Research Courses , 2001 .

[28]  M. Ozturk.  Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Educators' Attitudes Toward Educational Research Scale , 2011 .

[29]  Bernard C. Beins,et al.  Best practices for teaching statistics and research methods in the behavioral sciences , 2007 .

[30]  Paula M. Poindexter.  A Model for Effective Teaching and Learning in Research Methods , 1997 .

[31]  Kathleen M. T. Collins,et al.  Performance of cooperative learning groups in a postgraduate education research methodology course , 2009 .

[32]  J. Walsh,et al.  Assessing autonomous learning in research methods courses: Implementing the student-driven research project , 2010 .

[33]  J. Donham,et al.  Mental Models of Research: Generating Authentic Questions , 2009 .

[34]  E. G. Plante,et al.  Integrating Service Learning into the Research Methods Course , 2003 .

[35]  S. Winn,et al.  Learning by doing: Teaching research methods through student participation in a commissioned research project , 1995 .

[36]  Melissa Burkley,et al.  Mythbusters: A Tool for Teaching Research Methods in Psychology , 2009 .

[37]  Kathleen M. T. Collins,et al.  Effect of Self-Perception on Performance of Graduate-Level Cooperative Groups in Research Methodology Courses. , 2008 .

[38]  Donald H. McBurney.  The Problem Method of Teaching Research Methods , 1995 .

[39]  H. Cooper.  Synthesizing Research: A Guide for Literature Reviews , 1998 .

[40]  Teaching Research Methods Courses in Human Geography: Critical Reflections , 2010 .

[41]  Joanne Thatcher,et al.  A student‐centred tutor‐led approach to teaching research methods , 2004 .

[42]  Kathleen M. T. Collins,et al.  Academic procrastination and the performance of graduate-level cooperative groups in research methods courses , 2011 .

[43]  Cynthia D. Bisman,et al.  Innovations in teaching social work research , 2003 .

[44]  Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie.  Relationship Between Peer Orientation and Achievement in Cooperative Learning-Based Research Methodology Courses , 2001 .

[45]  Laurie Strangman,et al.  Improving the Development of Student's Research Questions and Hypotheses in an Introductory Business Research Methods Course. , 2012 .

[46]  N. Alexander Aguado.  Teaching Research Methods: Learning by Doing , 2009 .

[47]  Malcolm Campbell,et al.  Online vs. face-to-face discussion in a Web-based research methods course for postgraduate nursing students: a quasi-experimental study. , 2008, International journal of nursing studies.

[48]  Jan H. F. Meyer,et al.  Students' Conceptions of Research. 2: An exploration of contrasting patterns of variation , 2007 .

[49]  S. A. Lei.  Factors Changing Attitudes of Graduate School Students toward an Introductory Research Methodology Course , 2008 .

[50]  Barbara B. Kawulich,et al.  The state of the art of teaching research methods in the social sciences: towards a pedagogical culture , 2011 .

[51]  Carlos E. Escoto,et al.  Using Empirical Article Analysis to Assess Research Methods Courses , 2011 .

[52]  Kay H. Braguglia,et al.  Teaching Research Methodology Using A Project-Based Three Course Sequence Critical Reflections On Practice , 2012 .

[53]  Rosemary Deem,et al.  Learning about research: exploring the learning and teaching/research relationship amongst educational practitioners studying in higher education , 2006 .

[54]  Jan H. F. Meyer,et al.  Students' Conceptions of Research. I: A qualitative and quantitative analysis , 2005 .

[55]  O. J. Sizemore,et al.  Learning Might Not Equal Liking: Research Methods Course Changes Knowledge but Not Attitudes , 2009 .

[56]  Juris Dilevko,et al.  A new approach to teaching research methods courses in LIS programs , 2000 .

[57]  Msw Denise M. Montcalm.  Applying Bandura's Theory of Self-Efficacy to the Teaching of Research , 1999 .

[58]  D.RA.MA: An Extended Conceptualization of Student Anxiety in Criminal Justice Research Methods Courses , 2009 .

[59]  Joann Keyton.  Integrating service‐learning in the research methods course , 2001 .

[60]  Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman Msw,et al.  Teaching Social Work Research: A Comparison of Web-Based and In-Class Lecture Methods , 2006 .

[61]  J. Vittengl,et al.  Why are Some Undergraduates More (and others Less) Interested in Psychological Research? , 2004 .

[62]  Ryan Watkins,et al.  Qualitative Investigation of Doctoral Students' Learning Experiences in Online Research Methods Courses. , 2008 .

[63]  L. Emery,et al.  Use of the student-oriented learning outline in research education. , 2000, The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

[64]  Mark Girod,et al.  Comparing Distance vs. Campus-Based Delivery of Research Methods Courses , 2009 .

[65]  E. Papanastasiou,et al.  Anxiety in undergraduate research methods courses: its nature and implications , 2008 .

[66]  Elena C. Papanastasiou,et al.  FACTOR STRUCTURE OF THE “ATTITUDES TOWARD RESEARCH” SCALE , 2005 .

[67]  C. Pietersen,et al.  Research as a Learning Experience: A Phenomenological Explication , 2002 .

[68]  A. Royce.  The Campus Survey: Integrating Pedagogy, Scholarship, and Evaluation , 2007 .

[69]  Erno Lehtinen,et al.  Computer‐supported Problem‐based Learning in the Research Methodology Domain , 2005 .

[70]  Rula L. Diab.  Teaching Practices and Student Learning in the Introductory Research Methods Class , 2006 .

[71]  Sarah Polkinghorne,et al.  Research is a Verb: Exploring a New Information Literacy-Embedded Undergraduate Research Methods Course / Chercher est un verbe: exploration d'une nouvelle forme de maîtrise de l'information - le cours sur les méthodes de recherche intégrées au premier cycle , 2010 .

[72]  Andrea Gregg,et al.  Learning From Doing: Lessons Learned From Designing and Developing an Educational Software Within a Heterogeneous Group , 2021, Int. J. Web Based Learn. Teach. Technol..

[74]  Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie,et al.  The Role of Cooperative Learning in Research Methodology Courses: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. , 2001 .