Abstract:

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of the research course given in undergraduate education on the research proficiency and information literacy skills of the nursing department students of a university in the Eastern Black Sea Region. It is a non-controlled quasiexperimental study with a single group pre-test-post-test design and was carried out with third-year nursing students (n=67). “Student Questionnaire”, “R-COMP Research Competencies Scale” and “Information Literacy Scale” were used in the data collection process. The data were assessed through mean, number, percentage and dependent groups t-tests. When the R-COMP research competencies scale pre-test and post-test mean scores were examined, it was seen that the research course increased the mean scores statistically (t= -3.998, p<0.001). When the theoretical dimensions of the R-COMP research competencies scale were examined, the post-test mean scores of the theoretical dimensions of methodological skills (t=-2.944, p=0.004), communication skills (t=-4.363, p<0.001) and content knowledge (t=-4.930, p<0.001) were found to be significantly higher. Analysis of the information literacy scale pre-test and post-test mean scores demonstrated an increase in the post-test mean score, but the difference was not statistically significant (t=-1.357, p=0.180). In conclusion, the research course given during undergraduate education had a positive effect on the development of nursing students’ research competence skills. The research course also increased the information literacy skills of nursing students, although the difference was not statistically significant.

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