title: Undergraduate medical research: the student perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research training is essential in a modern undergraduate medical curriculum. Our evaluation aimed to (a) gauge students' awareness of research activities, (b) compare students' perceptions of their transferable and research-specific skills competencies, (c) determine students' motivation for research and (d) obtain students' personal views on doing research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undergraduate medical students (N = 317) completed a research skills questionnaire developed by the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Applied Undergraduate Research Skills (CETL-AURS) at Reading University. The questionnaire assessed students' transferable skills, research-specific skills (e.g., study design, data collection and data analysis), research experience and attitude and motivation towards doing research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of students are motivated to pursue research. Graduate entrants and male students appear to be the most confident regarding their research skills competencies. Although all students recognise the role of research in medical practice, many are unaware of the medical research activities or successes within their university. Of those who report no interest in a career incorporating research, a common perception was that researchers are isolated from patients and clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students have a narrow definition of research and what it entails. An explanation for why research competence does not align more closely with research motivation is derived from students' lack of understanding of the concept of translational research, as well as a lack of awareness of the research activity being undertaken by their teachers and mentors. We plan to address this with specific research awareness initiatives.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. l.burgoyne@ucc.ie
authors.forename: Louise N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Burgoyne
authors.forename: Siun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Flynn
authors.forename: Geraldine B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Boylan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003625:Data Collection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D055815:Young Adult