Psychology masters students’ perceptions of developing identities as researchers

Abstract

Research training is attracting more inspection as research itself is viewed as having greater importance in the global knowledge economy. Students in the social sciences particularly struggle with the research component of their degrees. The development of an identity as a researcher has been under-researched whilst the development of other professional identities and competencies, e.g. as clinical practitioners, was prioritized. Research looked at students’ understanding of and attitudes towards research however, the extent to which students in professional programmes identify as researchers has not been explored. The extent to which students and graduates develop an identity as researchers that enables them to engage in psychological research and to become productive in a knowledge economy has not been examined systematically.