Development of Digital Competence for Research

Abstract

Several kinds of research conclude that the level of digital competence of students is mainly oriented to their daily activities. Therefore, we present the current paper which seeks to determine the impact of implementing a blended learning course designed to improve digital competence for research (DCR) among a group of undergraduate engineering students. With this approach, a quasi-experimental explanatory methodology with a causal-comparative scope was applied. For this reason, the results were analyzed before and after applying a specially designed course to the experimental group, comparing it with a passive control group by collecting data using three previously validated instruments. For data analysis, students’ t-tests and two-way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) were used, estimating the effects with Cohen’s study. Given the results, there was a statistically significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) in their skills and attitudes, but not in their knowledge, obtaining a significant effect size only in the procedural dimension (f = 0.41 y η2 = 0.142). Therefore, the implementation of the course used in the blended learning modality is considered to significantly improve the DCR of a group of undergraduate engineering students, although the results should be evaluated with due reservations.