title: Dental undergraduate students' participation in research in China: current state and directions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is not until the recent 10 years, when an increasing number of dental undergraduate students in China have gradually participated in scientific research. However, few studies have analysed the current status of this new wave. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate dental undergraduate students' participation in research and to explore possible options for refining or reforming the existing teaching and research system in dentistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors constructed a questionnaire that was completed by a sample of students from a high-ranking dental school in China. The data were processed with SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the 250 questionnaires distributed, 191 were returned, 186 of which were complete and suitable for analysis. Over a half of the respondents had participated in research programmes. There were diversified motives for undergraduate participation in scientific research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have led us to speculate on the current state of undergraduate participation in scientific research and the underlying problems. This preliminary investigation yielded intriguing findings: (i) the distribution of scientific resources influences scientific production. (ii) lack of interest in science has a negative impact on the reserve of the future scientific workforce. (iii) diverse motives for participation in undergraduate research reveal lack of understanding of the essence of science.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is proposed that the current education and research system in dental higher education should be systemically reformed.
authors: West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Ping
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D002681:China; D018865:Dental Research; D004497:Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching
keywords: academic training; scientific research; teaching methods; undergraduate medical education