Becoming a science researcher: a qualitative analysis of the process of researcher identity formation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K02901
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09080:Science education-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Sachi 大阪大学, 国際教育交流センター, 准教授 (70769067)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 科学アイデンティティ / 理系研究室

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, an interview survey was conducted with students in university science laboratories. The results suggest that in university science laboratories, everyone faces the reality that research does not go as well as expected, that to overcome this reality, it is essential to first be accepted as a member of the laboratory, and that in such an environment, students examine their own suitability as researchers and consider whether they should continue to pursue a career as a researcher. It was suggested that in such an environment, students examine their own aptitude as researchers and consider whether they should continue to aim to become researchers. On the other hand, it was found that when students do not receive the necessary support when their research is not going well, they do not have the opportunity to examine their own aptitude, and they give up being researchers because they judge that they lack the aptitude to be a researcher.

Free Research Field

科学教育

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果，理系研究室に所属する学生たちが語る研究室の様子は多岐に渡り，その背後には，研究室を運営する教員それぞれの方針や信念があることが示唆された．また，研究から心が離れていく学生を生み出す研究室がある一方で，研究者を育むことに成功している研究室も少なからず見られた．現在，日本では国家規模で理系人材の促進を目指し，さまざまな取り組みが推奨されている．本研究は，そのような組織的努力が実を結ぶよう，大学研究室でも人材育成のために何らかの体系的な工夫が求められる必要性があることを改めて示唆するものである．