A synthesis of the literature on research methods education
Abstract
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.
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Earley noted that individual student scores on these variables have not been directly linked to actual performance in research methods classes.
“Earley noted that these are general descriptions of students in research methods classes, but that individual student scores on these variables have not been directly linked to actual performance in those classes, although the researchers who report these findings speculate that these negative attitudes certainly hinder learning.”
From Lessons from the field: Isn't it just common sense? Naïve realism as a barrier to learning (2024) · cites this paper as Earley, 2014
Research methods classes are notoriously difficult and produce a lot of resistance among students in the social sciences.
“Research methods classes are notoriously difficult and produce a lot of resistance among students in the social sciences (Earley, 2014).”
From Lessons from the field: Isn't it just common sense? Naïve realism as a barrier to learning (2024) · cites this paper as Earley, 2014
Earley (2014) reviewed literature and offered generalizations that students in social science research methods classes fail to see relevance, are anxious, uninterested, unmotivated, have poor attitudes, and have significant misconceptions about research.
“Earley (2014) reviewed published literature and offered several discouraging generalizations about students in research methods classes in the social sciences: they fail to see the relevance of the course to their major, they are anxious about the difficulty of the course, they are uninterested in the material and unmotivated to learn it, they have poor attitudes toward research, and they have sig”
From Lessons from the field: Isn't it just common sense? Naïve realism as a barrier to learning (2024) · cites this paper as Earley, 2014
Cited by
Sorted by citations
O'Dea, X. (., & O'Dea, M. (2023) · Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice · doi:10.53761/1.20.5.06 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Akingbade, O., Eniola, O., Sulaiman, A. A., Adesuyi, E. O., Ilesanmi, E. B., Adesokan, Z. O., Ogunlowo, B. C., Akinokun, R. T., Oviri, E., Eze, C. J., et al. (2023) · Nursing Open · doi:10.1002/nop2.1967 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Lessons from the field: Isn't it just common sense? Naïve realism as a barrier to learning
Dyer, K. D. (2024) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.12967 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
- Authors
- Earley, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Earley, Mark A.
- Venue
- Teaching in Higher Education
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-11-22
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 242-253
- ISSN
- 1356-2517 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-1294
- OpenAlex
- W1978190800
- Cited by
- 284
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 49.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Teaching in Higher Education (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Research and Methods
- Social Sciences › Education › Evaluation of Teaching Practices
- Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistics Education and Methodologies
- Keywords
- research methodology training, research methods teaching, student characteristics, teaching methods
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