Content analysis of the journal of student research: exploring the research culture of a university

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to gain better understanding of the research culture of the university by conducting a content analysis of the articles in the university student journal. The University of Wisconsin-Stout Journal of Student Research had its inception twelve years ago. An analysis of its contents has yet to be conducted. In order to gain greater understanding of the research culture at this university, the faculty-researcher and student-researchers co-conducted a content analysis of the university-based journal. Reported are findings from the following areas: total number of articles, authoring practices, advising patterns, count by department, attention to ethics, identification of article type, and content areas within articles. Implications for the journal, as well as student, faculty advisors/authors, and the larger university community are discussed.