Exploring Preservice Teachers’ Research Attitudes: Results From a Natural Experiment

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Contemporary Explorations in Teaching and Learning Research Methods (Table 2)

Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes of pre-service teachers towards research literacy and the influence of course design on these attitudes. By examining the changes in the design of a Research Methods course due to COVID-19, we compared the attitudes of two groups of students: one undertaking a theoretically-focused assignment and another engaging in a full research study. Our findings indicate that the theoretical group showed more positive attitudes, less anxiety, greater perceived usefulness of research, more intentions to use research in future practice, and greater confidence in their research capabilities. These results underscore the need to consider course design in pre-service teacher education to foster a more positive disposition towards research literacy, critical for data-based decision making in contemporary teaching practice.

Authors

• Elena C. Papanastasiou, University of Nicosia

• Maria Vrikki, University of Nicosia