Research Article

The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students

Volume: 17 Number: 2 August 24, 2026
TR EN

The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a research methods course on physiotherapy and rehabilitation students’ epistemological beliefs, tendencies toward scientific values, and attitudes toward scientific research. Methods: The study was conducted using a single-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design. A total of 85 undergraduate students who were enrolled in the research methods course during the relevant semester and voluntarily agreed to participate were included. Data were collected using a sociodemographic data form, the Epistemological Beliefs Scale, the Scientific Values Tendency Scale, and the Attitude toward Scientific Research Scale. Results: The findings indicated a significant increase in students’ tendencies toward scientific values following the course (p<0.001). However, no significant changes were observed in epistemological beliefs or attitudes toward scientific research (p>0.05). Change scores did not differ according to gender, reading habits, or frequency of reading scientific articles (p>0.05). Additionally, a low but statistically significant correlation was found between scientific values and epistemological beliefs (r=0.291; p=0.007). Conclusion: Research methods education appears to be effective in enhancing students’ orientation toward scientific values. However, longer-term and experience-based educational approaches may be required to achieve meaningful changes in deeper constructs such as epistemological beliefs and scientific attitudes.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physiotherapy

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 24, 2026

Submission Date

April 8, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 28, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: 2

APA
Ergan, M., Keskin, T., Başkurt, F., & Başkurt, Z. (2026). The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(2), 287-298. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1924370
AMA
1.Ergan M, Keskin T, Başkurt F, Başkurt Z. The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;17(2):287-298. doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1924370
Chicago
Ergan, Mesut, Tahir Keskin, Ferdi Başkurt, and Zeliha Başkurt. 2026. “The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 (2): 287-98. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1924370.
EndNote
Ergan M, Keskin T, Başkurt F, Başkurt Z (August 1, 2026) The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 2 287–298.
IEEE
[1]M. Ergan, T. Keskin, F. Başkurt, and Z. Başkurt, “The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students”, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 287–298, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.22312/sdusbed.1924370.
ISNAD
Ergan, Mesut - Keskin, Tahir - Başkurt, Ferdi - Başkurt, Zeliha. “The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17/2 (August 1, 2026): 287-298. https://doi.org/10.22312/sdusbed.1924370.
JAMA
1.Ergan M, Keskin T, Başkurt F, Başkurt Z. The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;17:287–298.
MLA
Ergan, Mesut, et al. “The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students”. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 287-98, doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1924370.
Vancouver
1.Mesut Ergan, Tahir Keskin, Ferdi Başkurt, Zeliha Başkurt. The Effect of Research Methods Education on Scientific Values, Epistemological Beliefs, and Research Attitudes in Physiotherapy Students. Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Aug. 1;17(2):287-98. doi:10.22312/sdusbed.1924370