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Perceived enablers and constraints of motivation to conduct undergraduate research in a Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: What role does choice play?
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 14, Iss 3, p e0212873 (2019)
- Publication Year :
- 2019
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2019.
-
Abstract
- BackgroundEnhancing evidence-based practice and improving locally driven research begins with fostering the research skills of undergraduate students in the medical and health sciences. Research as a core component of undergraduate curricula can be facilitated or constrained by various programmatic and institutional factors, including that of choice. Self-Determination Theory (SDT) provides a framework for understanding the influence of choice on student motivation to engage in research.AimThis study aimed to document the enablers and constraints of undergraduate research at a South African Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) and to explore how the presence or absence of choice influenced students' engagement with research in this context.MethodsAn exploratory descriptive design was adopted. Undergraduate students who had conducted research and undergraduate programme staff were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. Findings were interpreted using SDT, focusing on how choice at various levels affects motivation and influences research experiences.ResultsMany of the programmatic and institutional enablers and constraints-such as time and supervisory availability-were consistent with those previously identified in the literature, regardless of whether research was compulsory or elective. Choice itself seemed to operate as both an enabler and a constraint, highlighting the complexity of choice as an influence on student motivation. SDT provided insight into how programmatic and institutional factors-and in particular choice-supported or suppressed students' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, thereby influencing their motivation to engage in research.ConclusionWhile programmatic and institutional factors may enable or constrain undergraduate research, individual-level factors such as the influence of choice on students' motivation play a critical role. The implication for curriculum development is that research engagement might be enhanced if levels of choice are structured into the curriculum such that students' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness are met.
- Subjects :
- Male
Science and Technology Workforce
Medical psychology
Biomedical Research
Students, Medical
Health Care Providers
Social Sciences
Careers in Research
Choice Behavior
South Africa
Learning and Memory
Cognition
ComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATION
Medicine and Health Sciences
Psychology
Schools, Medical
Allied Health Care Professionals
Multidisciplinary
Health services research
Faculty
Research Personnel
Professions
Undergraduate research
Medicine
Educational Status
Female
Health Services Research
Curriculum
Human learning
Research Article
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Science Policy
Science
Decision Making
MEDLINE
Personal autonomy
Human Learning
Supervisors
Learning
Humans
Medical education
Motivation
Cognitive Psychology
Biology and Life Sciences
Health Care
People and Places
Personal Autonomy
Cognitive Science
Population Groupings
Citation
Undergraduates
Biomedical sciences
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....5be701d192ec9f64d04877f6004b16b6