Reflections from research methods education program: Effect on pre-service teachers' attitudes and anxieties

Abstract

Background: Most higher education institutions are now proposing to introduce courses about reading and carrying out research studies as part of their program of instruction at undergraduate and graduate levels. Affective characteristics play an important role in learning and achievement. They influence the amount of effort that one is willing to expend on learning a subject, which also influences the selection of more advanced courses in similar areas (e.g., research and statistics courses) beyond the minimum requirements. Therefore, assessing students' affective characteristics toward research methods courses is important in enabling instructors to develop instructional techniques that lead to more positive attitudes toward the subject. Aims: To investigate the effect of a Research Methods Education Program which focused on planning and carrying out educational research - on pre-service teachers' attitudes and anxiety toward educational research, and to determine their views about the program. Sample: 40 secondary mathematics education majors from a university in western Turkey enrolled in Research Methods Education Program. Method: Research Methods Education Program was implemented in three semesters. Two scales, namely "Attitudes toward scientific research" and "Research anxiety" scales were used as pre-, mid- and post-tests in the study. At the end of the program, pre-service teachers were requested to record their views about the program. Results: The study showed that pre-service teachers' attitudes toward undertaking educational research changed in a positive direction. Their anxiety level did not change after the theoretical courses related to educational research methods and statistics, but reduced after they carried out an educational research project by themselves. Conclusion: The Research Methods Education Program indicated that pre-service teachers may have an active role in improving their teaching and in changing their affective characteristics in a positive manner.