Students’ Experiences of Learning Research Methods in an Interdisciplinary Project-Based Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
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Abstract
Teaching research methods is a challenging endeavor in any discipline. Approaches that offer beneficial and rewarding learning opportunities to students could improve their experiences of methods courses. This article describes research psychology students’ and urban planning students’ experiences of an approach that combines experiential and interdisciplinary scholarship in a university–science council research collaboration. Qualitative data from a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews generated three themes: Learning about research in the real world, experiences of multidisciplinary teamwork, and the professional and personal development of emerging researchers. These themes underline the importance of offering opportunities for learning about research in real-world settings, particularly when it is possible to involve external partners. We present implications of and recommendations for the implementation of the interdisciplinary project-based learning strategy for teaching research methods.
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