ABSTRACT

Several studies have confirmed social work students’ reluctance about research courses. However, there remains little understanding of the determinants of students’ interest in research courses. This study aimed to contribute to a more robust understanding of underlying dynamics influencing students’ feelings regarding research courses through a comparison of students entering a BSW programme in Australia and Switzerland. We hypothesized that a) students’ interest in research courses was predicted by students’ fear of research courses and research orientation, b) their research orientation was determined by their fear of research courses, and c) their fear was predicted by their statistics anxiety and general self-efficacy. For data collection, we used an anonymous self-administered online questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, multivariate analyses and structural equation modelling. The sample included 165 Australian and 245 Swiss students (N=410). In both student groups, interest in research courses was predicted by students’ fear of research courses and their research orientation. Fear of research courses was predicted by general self-efficacy and statistics anxiety. Fear of research courses did not determine research orientation. Regardless of the diverse contexts, in both groups the predictors of research interest proved to be the same.

摘要

几项研究证实了社会工作学生对研究课程的不情愿。然而，对于学生对研究课程的兴趣的决定因素仍然知之甚少。本研究旨在通过比较在澳大利亚和瑞士参加 BSW 项目的学生，有助于更深入地了解影响学生对研究课程的感受的潜在动力。我们假设 a) 学生对研究课程的兴趣是由学生对研究课程和研究方向的恐惧预测的，b) 他们的研究方向是由他们对研究课程的恐惧决定的，c) 他们的恐惧是由他们的统计焦虑预测的一般的自我效能感。对于数据收集，我们使用了匿名的自我管理在线问卷。使用描述性统计、多变量分析和结构方程模型分析数据。样本包括 165 名澳大利亚学生和 245 名瑞士学生（N=410）。在这两个学生群体中，学生对研究课程的恐惧和他们的研究方向预测了他们对研究课程的兴趣。一般自我效能感和统计焦虑预示着对研究课程的恐惧。对研究课程的恐惧并不能决定研究方向。无论背景如何，在两组中，研究兴趣的预测因素都被证明是相同的。一般自我效能感和统计焦虑预示着对研究课程的恐惧。对研究课程的恐惧并不能决定研究方向。无论背景如何，在两组中，研究兴趣的预测因素都被证明是相同的。一般自我效能感和统计焦虑预示着对研究课程的恐惧。对研究课程的恐惧并不能决定研究方向。无论背景如何，在两组中，研究兴趣的预测因素都被证明是相同的。