The student research experience questionnaire in Japan: validation and structural relations among experience dimensions, skill development and satisfaction

Purpose Measuring postgraduate students’ research experiences is crucial for incorporating student perspectives and ensuring quality assurance and improvement in higher education. However, limited research has been conducted on the relationship between research experiences and student outcomes in non-Western contexts. This study aims to validate the Student Research Experience Questionnaire (SREQ), originally developed in Australia, within the context of Japan and to explore the relationships between different domains of students’ research experiences, their perceived skills development and overall satisfaction with their research degree experience. Design/methodology/approach A total of 126 postgraduate students from a leading national university in Japan participated in the study by completing a questionnaire. The results supported the construct validity of six scales: supervision, infrastructure, intellectual climate, peer support, program design and skill development. Findings Results of structural equation modeling revealed that supervision, infrastructure, peer support and program design were significantly associated with students’ perceived skills development, while supervision and peer support were significantly associated with overall satisfaction. Originality/value Implications for enhancing the research experiences of postgraduate students in Japan are discussed.