Developing Research Competence in Undergraduate Students through Hands on Learning
Table 1
Self-perceived competency in broader and specific research skills prior to and following the completion of a nutrition research methods unit.
Before
After
Improved ()
No change ()
Decrease ()
Median (IQR)
Range
Median (IQR)
Range
Broader/transferable self-perceived research skills ()
Communication skills, writing
7 (6, 7)
2–9
7 (6, 8)
5–9
0.053
8
8
1
Communication skills, oral
7 (6, 8)
5–8
7 (6, 8)
6–9
0.285
7
6
4
Information gathering, handling
6 (6, 7)
2–8
7 (6, 8)
5–10
0.015
10
5
2
Information evaluation
6 (6, 7)
3–8
7 (6, 8)
5–9
0.024
11
4
2
Numeracy
7 (6, 8)
6–9
7 (7, 9)
5–10
0.582
5
8
4
Teamwork
8 (8, 9)
5–10
8 (8, 9)
6–10
0.791
6
7
4
Ability to work independently
8 (8, 9)
7–10
9 (8, 10)
8–10
0.020
6
11
0
Project management skills
7 (7, 9)
5–10
8 (8, 9)
7–10
0.064
11
2
4
Time management skills
8 (7, 9)
6–10
8 (7, 8)
6–10
0.836
5
7
5
Problem-solving
8 (7, 8)
5–10
8 (7, 8)
6–10
0.796
5
7
5
Critical thinking
6 (6, 8)
5–8
7 (7, 8)
6–10
0.039
9
5
3
Specific self-perceived research skills ()
Designing a study
6 (5, 6)
1–9
7 (6, 8)
5–10
0.002
14
2
2
Study sampling
6 (4, 6)
1–8
7 (6, 8)
5–10
0.002
13
3
2
Participant recruitment
5 (4, 6)
1–8
7 (6, 8)
5–9
0.002
13
3
2
Data collection
7 (5, 7)
1–9
8 (7, 8)
6–10
0.003
13
3
2
Biological statistics
6 (4, 6)
1–7
7 (6, 8)
4–10
0.002
13
3
2
Paper preparation/reporting
6 (5, 7)
2–8
7 (6, 8)
6–10
0.004
12
3
3
Paper presenting to an audience
6 (4, 7)
1–8
6 (6, 8)
5–9
0.025
11
2
5
Bold text P < 0.05. Competency assessed on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 representing the lowest level of competency and 10 the highest. obtained from Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test comparing pre- and post-self-perceived competency in each respective skill.
