Alumni's experiences of group research projects

Research projects are an integral component of health profession education. Conventionally most physiotherapy students work independently on their research project with few group projects taking place. The potential benefits of group projects are an increased interest in learning, development of problem-solving and critical reasoning and enhanced communication and group skill.

Previous research which has investigated students’ experience of group project for example in nursing and education has identified their potential benefits. These include an increased interest in learning, the development of problem-solving and critical reasoning skills, and enhances communication and group skills. Health professional research nto group projects where students undertake primary data collection and analysis as part of a research project appears to be limited and to the research teams knowledge, no studies to date had specifically explored the use of group projects through the whole research process.

This qualitative study explored the experience of Master’s physiotherapy students conducting neuromusculoskeletal group research project. A phenomenological approach was adopted to gain insight into participants’ experience of learning and working in a group.  The study took place in the School of Health Sciences with the Faculty of Health Sciences. Participants who took part in the study were either pre-registration student who had completed a previous health related degree and were studying on an accelerated physiotherapy programme, or postgraduate physiotherapists who were undertaking a Master’s course in neuromusculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Project aims

The research study aimed to explore the experiences of alumni who had undertaken a group research project as part of their programme of study in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Brighton.

Project objectives:-

  • To gain a deeper understanding of students’ experiences of group projects
  • To identify advantages and constraints of group projects
  • To provide insight into learning and teaching approaches that facilitate student learning within group projects
  • To utilise findings to support the development of further group project work.

By undertaking research into students’ experiences of group approach the research team hoped to gain insight into their experiences, which would improve future group research projects. Insight into the experiences of students who have taken part in a group project has enabled the staff facilitating these projects to adapt their learning and teaching approached in order to enhance the students learning experience.

Project impact

Six participants who were all alumni took part in individual telephone interviews conducted by independent researcher. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: the role of the supervisor, peer assisted learning, quality enhancement and learning to work in a research team. Participants felt that group projects facilitated their confidence in the research process. This has been demonstrated as two of the alumni have presented their projects at conferences and published in an international journal. Some of the alumni found working in a group challenging, but were able to reflect on the skills, which they learned through managing the group dynamics. The potential benefits of group projects are an increase in peer assisted learning, the development of problem solving and critical reasoning, enhanced communication and team skills. The presence of a group member who fails to contribute has been identified as a potential constraint.

Reflection on emerging themes highlighted the importance of  the supervisor’s role in facilitating the process. A framework supervising group research projects work has been produced to facilitate others in supervising to best effect; this has feed into staff and curriculum development.  

Research team

Hebron C

Morris J

Cage M

Output

Hebron C, Morris J, Cage M. ‘Spurring you on’ – The values of group research projects. Teachers Symposium IFOMPT, ECE Meeting 25th November 2010, Zaragoza, Spain.

Hebron C, Morris J, Cage M. ‘Spurring you on’ – The values of group research projects. Teaching and Learning Conference, University of Brighton, July 2010

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