Japanese physical education graduate students’ learning about research skill development

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate Japanese graduate students’ research skill learning experiences in physical education teacher education at a public university. In this study, andragogy theory was utilised, which allowed the researchers to understand Japanese graduate students’ learning experiences. Five Japanese physical education master’s students (3 men and 2 women) participated in the study, which had a descriptive-qualitative design using an in-depth, semi-structured interview approach. The data sources were demographic questionnaire and face to face interviews. Interview data were analysed using a constant comparative method, and resulted in themes related to (a) strategies for physical education literature, (b) understanding the value and application of literature, and (c) learning how to replicate research studies in physical education. To better support Japanese graduate students, this study encourages physical education teacher education faculty and graduate students to learn the nature of the research projects (e.g. thesis) regarding how to develop a blueprint for the theoretical framework, research method, and presentation of results using international research sources in the graduate students’ research seminars.