Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students
This study introduces a novel framework for High School Research Cognitive Learning Program (HSRCLP), focused on developing 21st century research skills (including research behavior, scientific identity, and values for the scientific community) among high school students. Drawing on a novel framewor...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025003305 |
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| author | Noora J. Al-Thani Zubair Ahmad |
| author_facet | Noora J. Al-Thani Zubair Ahmad |
| author_sort | Noora J. Al-Thani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduces a novel framework for High School Research Cognitive Learning Program (HSRCLP), focused on developing 21st century research skills (including research behavior, scientific identity, and values for the scientific community) among high school students. Drawing on a novel framework of “Research Cognitive Theory” (RCT) and empirical evidence, the HSRCLP represents a paradigm shift in secondary education, offering a dynamic research learning environment to enculturate research skills in students. The RCT in the HSRCLP is grounded within Social Learning Theory (SLT) & Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), incorporating the principles of challenge-based learning (CBL) and blended problem & project-based learning (PBL + PjBL) pedagogical approaches. To demonstrate its effectiveness, a two-group pre-post survey method was employed, involving 230 high school students across 10 batches. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in research attitudes among high-performing students (experiment group 1) exposed to the HSRCLP compared to the control group. Subsequent intervention for average or low-performing students (experiment group 2) also yielded substantial gains in research attitudes, highlighting the program's effectiveness across academic spectrums. Therefore, the HSRCLP demonstrates promise in bridging the gap between theory and practice, offering secondary education practitioners an evidence-based approach to nurture secondary students' 21st research century skills. Educators and policymakers are encouraged to integrate RCT-based frameworks into curricula and explore its scalability in various educational settings to enhance its impact on developing scientific identity and research-driven behaviors in students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e12f6b4d497b4f30aaad7a16272eee85 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-e12f6b4d497b4f30aaad7a16272eee852025-02-02T05:28:37ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01112e41950Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school studentsNoora J. Al-Thani0Zubair Ahmad1Qatar University Young Scientists Center (QUYSC), Qatar University, 2713, Doha, QatarCorresponding author. Section Head of Module Development and Publication, Qatar University Young Scientists Center, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.; Qatar University Young Scientists Center (QUYSC), Qatar University, 2713, Doha, QatarThis study introduces a novel framework for High School Research Cognitive Learning Program (HSRCLP), focused on developing 21st century research skills (including research behavior, scientific identity, and values for the scientific community) among high school students. Drawing on a novel framework of “Research Cognitive Theory” (RCT) and empirical evidence, the HSRCLP represents a paradigm shift in secondary education, offering a dynamic research learning environment to enculturate research skills in students. The RCT in the HSRCLP is grounded within Social Learning Theory (SLT) & Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), incorporating the principles of challenge-based learning (CBL) and blended problem & project-based learning (PBL + PjBL) pedagogical approaches. To demonstrate its effectiveness, a two-group pre-post survey method was employed, involving 230 high school students across 10 batches. Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in research attitudes among high-performing students (experiment group 1) exposed to the HSRCLP compared to the control group. Subsequent intervention for average or low-performing students (experiment group 2) also yielded substantial gains in research attitudes, highlighting the program's effectiveness across academic spectrums. Therefore, the HSRCLP demonstrates promise in bridging the gap between theory and practice, offering secondary education practitioners an evidence-based approach to nurture secondary students' 21st research century skills. Educators and policymakers are encouraged to integrate RCT-based frameworks into curricula and explore its scalability in various educational settings to enhance its impact on developing scientific identity and research-driven behaviors in students.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025003305High-impact practicesCapacity buildingSecondary educationEvidence-based instructional practiceResearch experience |
| spellingShingle | Noora J. Al-Thani Zubair Ahmad Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students Heliyon High-impact practices Capacity building Secondary education Evidence-based instructional practice Research experience |
| title | Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| title_full | Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| title_fullStr | Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| title_short | Learning through “Research Cognitive Theory”: A new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| title_sort | learning through research cognitive theory a new framework for developing 21st century research skills in secondary school students |
| topic | High-impact practices Capacity building Secondary education Evidence-based instructional practice Research experience |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025003305 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noorajalthani learningthroughresearchcognitivetheoryanewframeworkfordeveloping21stcenturyresearchskillsinsecondaryschoolstudents AT zubairahmad learningthroughresearchcognitivetheoryanewframeworkfordeveloping21stcenturyresearchskillsinsecondaryschoolstudents |