Journal Article

Teaching Sociology Students to Become Qualitative-Researchers Using an Internship Model of Learner-Support

Shephard, Kerry, Scarth, Bonnie, Tolich, Martin

2015

Overview

This article examines the experiences of final year undergraduate sociology students enrolled in an internship course where they researched a local community project, mostly in small groups, for a client. A sociology lecturer supervised their projects. Course-related outcomes were assessed using conventional university procedures but a research process was used to evaluate the extent to which the cohort developed characteristics, or identities, of qualitative researchers. The research demonstrates that the students made many false starts but through processes of trial and error, and with effective support, they considered that they had increased their confidence and became capable of planning and carrying out research. For the students, this internship was not just another class. Their stories reflect on their abilities as researchers and adoption of attitudes towards appropriate research approaches, processes and outputs typical of professional qualitative researchers.

• Publisher: Bielefeld University,Journal of Social Science Education
• Subject: Academically Gifted / Agricultural Occupations / Cohort Analysis / College Science / College Seniors / Community Programs / Education Work Relationship / Educational Development / Educational Researchers / Experiential Learning / Feedback (Response) / Foreign Countries / Higher Education / Intellectual Disability / Internship Programs / Interviews / Libraries / Marine Biology / Mentors / New Zealand / Outcomes of Education / Parents / Professional Identity / Qualitative Research / Research Methodology / Research Projects / Research Skills / Researchers / Rhyme / Science Education / Science Instruction / Self Efficacy / Semi Structured Interviews / Skill Development / Social Sciences / Social Work / Sociology / Student Educational Objectives / Student Evaluation / Student Research / Teamwork / Time Management / Undergraduate Students