The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences
This paper examines the research skill development of an intact group of postgraduate (Master of Arts) students in a research methodology course. Data were collected from the students' weekly introspective reflective journals over one semester and a semi-structured interview at the end of the c...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
2013
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40724/1/04%20Page%2041-56%20%28JSSH-0905-2013%29.pdf |
| _version_ | 1796973797241257984 |
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| author | Yong, Mei Fung Tan, Bee Hoon |
| author_facet | Yong, Mei Fung Tan, Bee Hoon |
| author_sort | Yong, Mei Fung |
| collection | UPM |
| description | This paper examines the research skill development of an intact group of postgraduate (Master of Arts) students in a research methodology course. Data were collected from the students' weekly introspective reflective journals over one semester and a semi-structured interview at the end of the course. Results from the students' reflections revealed the initial high anxiety among novice researchers who had to juggle between learning new concepts and applying the knowledge in practice. Those who looked at the rewards instead of the challenges found their learning processes more meaningful although they also struggled in completing tasks and writing assignments. The students' esearch skill development culminated in a sense of achievement and satisfaction. The findings from the study contribute to the awareness of the difficulties, the strategies used and the worthwhile learning experiences of novice researchers in acquiring and developing research skills. Suggestions for pedagogy are identified for the use of reflections in the classroom. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T08:47:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm.eprints-40724 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T08:47:53Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Universiti Putra Malaysia Press |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | upm.eprints-407242015-10-08T05:03:57Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40724/ The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences Yong, Mei Fung Tan, Bee Hoon This paper examines the research skill development of an intact group of postgraduate (Master of Arts) students in a research methodology course. Data were collected from the students' weekly introspective reflective journals over one semester and a semi-structured interview at the end of the course. Results from the students' reflections revealed the initial high anxiety among novice researchers who had to juggle between learning new concepts and applying the knowledge in practice. Those who looked at the rewards instead of the challenges found their learning processes more meaningful although they also struggled in completing tasks and writing assignments. The students' esearch skill development culminated in a sense of achievement and satisfaction. The findings from the study contribute to the awareness of the difficulties, the strategies used and the worthwhile learning experiences of novice researchers in acquiring and developing research skills. Suggestions for pedagogy are identified for the use of reflections in the classroom. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2013-11 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40724/1/04%20Page%2041-56%20%28JSSH-0905-2013%29.pdf Yong, Mei Fung and Tan, Bee Hoon (2013) The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 21 (spec. Nov.). pp. 41-56. ISSN 0128-7702; ESSN: 2231-8534 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2021%20%28S%29%20Nov.%202013/04%20Page%2041-56%20%28JSSH-0905-2013%29.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Yong, Mei Fung Tan, Bee Hoon The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title | The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title_full | The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title_fullStr | The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title_short | The use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course: student experiences |
| title_sort | use of reflective journal in a postgraduate research methodology course student experiences |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40724/1/04%20Page%2041-56%20%28JSSH-0905-2013%29.pdf |
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