Understanding Postgraduate Students' Views On Research - From Theory Into Practice

This case study describes a concept mapping exercise with postgraduate students to explore their views of research.

Students were instructed to construct a concept map of 'what research meant to them'. Using research as their central concept they were also instructed to shade in the concepts that they were involved in. The exercise lasted for approximately 50 minutes. At the end of the exercise students engaged in an informal discussion about their concept maps and the nature of the exercise. Concept maps were completed at 3 time points throughout the year using two groups of students (group 1 time point 1 during dissertation group 2 time point 2 induction and time point 3 end of research methods module).