Postgraduate journal

“Write with effort, read for pleasure.”
How the prospect of publishing impacts on
students‟ motivation levels
1

LTA Conference 11th July 2012

Dr Angela Maye-Banbury, Principal Lecturer
James Orr, Researcher

WRITE WITH EFFORT, READ FOR PLEASURE 06/08/2012

Rationale for Research (1)
2

 Too many dissertations gathering dust on shelves!

 Opportunity to 'liberate' the student voice and use students'
research for more public dissemination and consumption.

 To promote the continued application of original knowledge;
move from discrete dissertation production to 'enhanced,
prolonged instrumental learning'.

 Enable students to capitalise on their research; to provide
positive affirmation; enhance employability and develop
writing skills; other skills.

Rationale For Research (2)
3

 To gather evidence to support or refute the hypothesis that
journal dedicated to papers based on masters these would be
embraced by postgraduate students.

 Inherent assumption that the provision of a written medium
which allows students to capitalise upon their research
findings at SHU would be universally welcome by our
postgraduate students.


Research Context
4
 Postgraduate students in the Department of Architecture
and Planning.

 PG students doing the following routes: housing,
regeneration; planning, environmental management and
public rights of way.

 Students had just completed the Applied Research
Methods module

 Had prepared two assessments elements to inform their
dissertation: (i) outline research proposal and another more
detailed proposal (refining objectives; developing
methodology (ii) fuller literature review).

Research Objectives
5

 To assess the extent to which the prospect of
publishing findings based on a masters dissertation
would impact on student motivation levels.

 To review the relevance of students' multiple goals
and student engagement when faced with the
prospect of having work published (Greeno, 1998;
Pintrich 2000a; 2000b and 2000c).


Review of interrelated variables
6

Employability

Self esteem

Peer affirmation

External validation

Confidence

Increased motivation

Increased well being

Increased work ethic

Other


Methodology
7

 Mixed Methods: The Survey
 Quantitative and qualitative questionnaire (44)
 Quantitative measures to see how much the
students agreed with the concept.
 Qualitative to allow them to develop their answers
and views.
 Focus group (5) (Recorded)
 Generate more detailed answers from what was said
in the questionnaire.


Key Findings - Questionnaire
8

 95% Agreed with the concept of the journal;
 90% of the students said they would be willing to
have their work published;
 90% said it would be great for their CV and job
interviews;
 72% said it wouldn’t have a negative impact on them
if they were not in the journal;
 50% said it wouldn’t change the quality of their
work.


Positive Student Support (1)
9

"I think it is an opportunity that
the the University clearly should "I think its a great effort.
p provide to postgraduate It will increase the name
students. I think a way of and fame of SHU and
distinguishing work which is a make me proud to say i
means to passing the course was a student of SHU .I
and work which seeks to appreciate this effort very
achieve something of broader much".
value would be helpful and
motivating".


Positive Student Support (2)
10
"I think it's a great idea, I think
it'll be rewarding to see a hard
project like a dissertation get
more attention in a journal. It I think it is a fantastic
will be useful for future students opportunity to showcase your
and give confidence to the work after working
people published to show their tirelessly to perfect it. It will
work is worthwhile". also be useful to know what
your peers think of it. If I had
such a resource right now, I
would have a better
understanding of what is
expected of me and what
quality I need to aim for.
Anything that helps students
reach their potential quicker is
always welcome.


Points For Further Reflection
International Students
11

I think it is a good
idea but Will be very hard for
International international students
students may
need some extra
help
for benefiting from
it.


Ranking
12

1. Confidence (63%)

2. Employability (54%)

3. Self - esteem (46%) & external validation (46%)

4. Peer affirmation (42%) and increased motivation (42%)

5. Increased work ethic (38%)

6. Increased well being (17%)

7. Other (8%)


Key Findings – Focus Group
13

 Students were saying it would ease the selection
process of picking a dissertation topic.

 It would help with the structure of the project.

 Unanimous vote that students should be a part of the
marketing and design team of the journal.

 Touched on confidence and benefits with jobs.


Conclusions (1)
14

 Reiterated multiple HE goals; introduced new motivators
such as helping students to identify suitable dissertation
topic and how to proper academic citation.

 Highlighted the importance of maximising students'
intellectual, psychological and employability capital - we
need to address this more in our pedagogical approach.

 Demonstrated the importance of published work in
promoting confidence; enhance employability prospects;
self esteem, self respect and peer affirmation.


Conclusion (2)
15

 Accentuated specific challenges faced by some of our
international students; support needed.

 Promoted staff and student understanding of the
importance of the dissertation; update supervisory
handbook guidance.

 Showed gap in resources: what is a suitable thesis topic?

 Appetite for student involvement - make it student led


Moving Forward (1)
16

 To go ahead with the student journal in 2012/13
(journal ratified by Department in Feb 2012)
 To develop the model developed in Built
Environment so the journal is more student led
(editorial/marketing).
 To integrate into Architecture end of year show as
exposition of high quality work.
 To decide criteria for dissertations selected for
invitation to publish; 2.1. or above but also string 2.2.
standard.


Moving Forward (2)
17

 See if work planning hours available.

 Ask for expressions of interest re: editorial panel.

 Find budget £250 for hard copies.

 Consider other potential e.g.distribution of journal in
open days


References
18

Greeno,J (1998) „The situativity of knowing, learning and research,
The American Psychologist, 53, pages 2 – 56.

Pintrich (2000a) „An achievement goal theory perspective on issue
in motivational terminology, theory and research‟,
Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, pages 92 – 105.

Pintirch J R (2000b) „Educational psychology in the millennium: A
look backward and a look forward‟, Educational
Psychologist, 35 pages 221 – 226.

Pintrich J R (2000c) „Multiple goals, multiples pathways: the role of
goal orientation in learning and achievement,
Journal of Education Psychology, 92, pages 544- 555.


Thank You For Listening
19

 Any Questions?


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