Studying the peculiarities of the universities students’ motivation for research activities

Abstract

Introduction. The article substantiates the need for up-to-date knowledge about the state and possibilities of university students’ research activities, taking into account the necessity to increase the importance of such activities for education and personal development of future professionals in the field of science. The purpose of the article is to present the research results (2023) reflecting the problems of involving students into research activities and ways of solving these problems, as well as the results of investigating students’ motivation at the Herzen State Pedagogical University in Russia. The innovative model of preparing highly qualified scientific and academic staff is characterized. Materials and Methods. The research methodology is based on the ideas of a personality-centered approach. Theoretical and practical methods of scientific research were applied: theoretical analysis, synthesis, classification; the online questionnaire, which revealed various aspects of students’ motivation to participation in research activities, and mathematical methods of data processing. Results. The authors presented three groups of results: - the review and analysis of studies conducted in the 2000s by Russian and international researchers on various aspects of engaging university students in research activities; - the review of current research investigations conducted in Russian universities, reflecting practice of improving university students’ research activities in various regions of the country; - the results of the study conducted in 2023 at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia - a survey of students majoring in the following fields: Education (Education science); Psychology (psychological sciences); Psychology and Education which reflect the key positions of organizing students’ research: the engagement of students in educational activities; motivation for research activities; satisfaction with research experience; the degree of participation in the student research society; self-assessment of the research skills; assessment of existing conditions for research activities and accessibility to them at the university. Conclusions. Students will choose research activities as a basis for their professional formation if research is considered to be a leading activity in the higher educational institution; where external and internal motives of involving students in research are taken into account and regulatory and research support of students in their scientific self-determination is manifested. One of the possible forms of creating such conditions is the model of a joint master’s and doctoral-level degree program.