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Undergraduate Learning in Science Project Working Paper 22 Description of the studyThe study focused upon the final year research projects of 12 students fromthe departments of biochemistry and molecular biology, chemistry, geneticsand earth sciences at the University of Leeds. Each project was completedby one student working alone, though often within a group of other studentsor researchers. Data were collected from the students themselves, theirsupervisors, and the departments hosting the projects. 1A longitudinal design was used for data collection from students, eachstudent being interviewed at the beginning of the project, at a point whenwork was well underway, and once the written report of the project wascompleted. Students were also visited informally while working on theirprojects. In addition, students were asked to keep a journal throughout theduration of their projects. Copies of the interview schedules used withstudents, and the information provided concerning the use of journals, can befound in appendix 1.Project supervisors were interviewed once, when students’ project reportshad been completed and were in the process of being marked. The interviewschedule administered to supervisors can be found in appendix 2. Furtherdata about departmental policies and practices in administering and assessingresearch projects were collected through a workshop activity involvingproject supervisors from each department (see appendix 3).Written data were also collected from departments relating to administrativeprocedures and the assessment of projects. In particular, departmentalguidelines on the assessment of projects were collected, as was any writteninformation produced for students about completing projects or projectreports.Table 1 summarises information about the sample used in the study:Table 1: The sample used for the research project studyDepartment Number of projects Number of supervisorscovering these projectsBiochemistry & 3 3Molecular BiologyChemistry 2 1Earth Sciences 4 4Genetics 3 31 A questionnaire survey of students (N~250) and supervisors (N~120) has recently been designed andwill be administered in May 1996.2
Undergraduate Learning in Science Project Working Paper 2Of the above students, 7 were female and 5 were male. 10 supervisors weremale, 1 was female. The sample was identified in order to span theparticipating departments. Examination performance was used bydepartments to select students across the ability spectrum for inclusion in thesample, though no attempt was made to reflect ability in a systematic waydue to the small numbers involved.In this series of working papers, the comments of students and supervisorsare treated anonymously.3
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