Frances K. Bailie, PhD
Department of Computer Science
Iona College
United States
fbailie@iona.edu
Abstract: The research component common to many Masters Degree programs poses significant challenges. Instructors strive to create a meaningful experience to demonstrate the intrinsic link between research and teaching as well as the central role of research in professional development. Students sometimes feel ill-prepared and pressured to complete a project requiring skills that are often lacking or underdeveloped. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to explore solutions to these problems by investigating how students view the research process and think of themselves as researchers; 2) to observe student reaction to being part of a research study, anticipating that participation would afford first hand experience with the process of collecting, analyzing and reporting data. The expectation was that this process of self reflection and engagement in a research study would suggest improved methodologies to allow students to reap the many benefits of the research experience.