Figure 3.

Research experience and interest in skill development of survey respondents by research category. The grouped median scores of individuals' experience or interest in ten research skill areas are plotted against four research categories. The ten research skill areas are 'writing a research protocol', 'using qualitative research methods', 'publishing research', 'writing and presenting a research report', 'analysing and interpreting results', 'using quantitative research methods', ' critically reviewing the literature', 'finding relevant literature', 'generating research ideas', and 'applying for research funding'. Median scores range between 1 (low experience or interest) to 5 (high experience or interest). Self-reported research skills for non-participants were generally low (median = 1.8 ± 0.4) and increased for each subsequent research category. The correlation between research skills and research category, both measures of research experience, is significant (red box plots, Spearman rank test, r = 0.82, p < 0.0005). Overall interest in development of skills in the ten core areas was high in all four research categories (blue patterned box plots; median = 3.6 to 4.0 ± 1.0).