A Study on Research Motivation Among Undergraduate Engineering Students: A Case Study
Research is a long-term investment, which will bring visibility and revenues for the country in the long run. In the context of product and service based organizations, research helps to know what products and services are actually needed by the customers, which is a cheaper option of manufacturing products, etc. It helps organizations to decide on the right price for the products and services as industry standard. Due to lack of research, Indian products fail to bridge the gap between the product or services and the faith of the customers. Research can be done by anyone, but academic institutions provide the necessary ambiance with the guidance of faculty, infrastructure and other resources needed for it. This research was conducted to identify motivation among under graduate students to pursue research at Regional Institute of Technology. The study focus was to find out if there were significant statistical differences on motivation factors. Mixed research approaches such as exploratory and descriptive were adopted. Non-probability sampling with convenience sampling method was used. Sample size comprised of three hundred and forty six subjects. The questionnaire was used in the survey for measuring motivation and was self-administered .Data collected was analyzed by using the statistical tests such as weighted arithmetic mean, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Chi-square analysis. The results indicated that motivation scores were higher among students. Interestingly, no significant differences were found on motivation attributed to gender level. Proper guidance from faculty and institution’s infrastructure motivates students to pursue research at under graduate level. In conclusion, investment in research helps students to develop critical thinking ability and problem solving attitudes. The paper concludes with few recommendations and suggestions for future studies.
What can students learn from final year research projects?
Abstract Final year research projects are a feature of most biosciences undergraduate courses. However, in a climate of increasing student numbers there is growing interest in providing alternatives to such resource-intensive projects. This interest raises some key questions. In particular, what do students learn from traditional final year projects and can alternative teaching activities be found to achieve all or some of these learning aims? This report follows from a recent Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) Biosciences workshop held in the UK: ‘Alternative Final Year Projects’. At the start of the workshop results from an educational research study were used to present a characterisation of student learning on ‘traditional’ final year research projects. This report summarises these findings and aims to promote a broad discussion about what traditional projects achieve, and what alternatives might be able to offer.
Community refinement of glaucoma referrals
AbstractAim To describe a Manchester-based glaucoma referral refinement scheme designed to reduce the number of false-positive referrals to the hospital eye service. To report on the first years results of this scheme and its financial costs to the NHS.Methods Patients with suspected glaucoma, instead of being referred to their GP and then on to the hospital eye service, were referred to a group of specially trained community optometrists working to an agreed set of referral criteria. Those patients who did not meet the referral criteria were returned to the referring optometrist, while those who met the referral criteria were referred directly to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. The patient's GP was informed in all cases.Results The number of suspect glaucoma cases referred to the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital was reduced by 40%. This figure is close to the percentage of false-positive referrals measured at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital prior to the onset of this study. The information accompanying referral has been improved and the scheme produces a small financial cost saving to the NHS of approximately £17 per patient.Conclusion Community refinement of suspect glaucoma offers some important benefits over the current referral pathway.