New Perspectives in Science Education

What qualities and competencies are required of researchers? Previous studies conducted in various contexts suggest that researchers commonly require qualities and competencies such as creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to use information effectively. However, the competencies emphasized may differ depending on researchers’ positions, organizations, and academic disciplines. While considerable attention has been paid to the competencies researchers are expected to possess, less is known about how students themselves conceptualize these qualities and competencies. This question is particularly important because some students who initially aspire to become researchers eventually abandon this career path because they perceive themselves as lacking the necessary qualities or competencies. This raises a fundamental question: What do students consider to be the qualities and competencies required of researchers, and how are these perceptions formed? This study investigated how students in university science laboratories perceive the qualities and competencies required of researchers and how these perceptions develop through research experiences. The participants were 18 students enrolled in science-related faculties at a national university in Japan. Three rounds of interviews were conducted over a one-year period, beginning immediately before they joined their research laboratories, and the data were analyzed using qualitative coding. The results showed that students already held certain ideas about the qualities and competencies required of researchers before joining their laboratories, and that these ideas gradually changed through their research experiences. Although their perceptions varied, several common themes emerged. Through observing and interacting with laboratory members and comparing themselves with others, students came to understand what was expected of researchers and to assess whether they themselves possessed these qualities and competencies. These findings suggest that students’ perceptions of researcher competence are continually shaped through participation in laboratory research.