Integrating Research into Information Technology Education.

Given the centrality of research and innovation to the information technology (IT) industry, teaching IT students about research is important and can potentially provide students with a range of benefits. This study investigated student perceptions of their achievement of the proposed benefits of explicit inclusion of research into undergraduate information technology degrees. Students enrolled in one or both of two dedicated research skills courses that first introduce them to information technology research and then allow them to undertake a complete research project were surveyed about their perceptions of the benefits of undertaking the courses. The results showed that they considered increased learning about information technology to be the major benefit, followed by improved lifelong learning and employability skills. The study also explored the factors proposed to determine whether students gain these benefits, and found motivation positively influenced whether students believed they had achieved these benefits. Beliefs and extent of participation in research also played a role in achievement of perceived benefits but influenced different subsets of them. This improved understanding of integration of research into information technology education should provide guidance to academics as they design courses and degrees that support achievement of these benefits.