In dieser Dissertation wurden drei zentrale Ziele mit einem Mixed-Methods-Ansatz verfolgt. Ein erstes Ziel war es, ein umfassendes Modell affektiv-motivationaler Forschungsdispositionen für Studierende der Sozialwissenschaften zu entwerfen, da sich existierende Konzeptionen von Forschungskompetenz ausschließlich auf kognitive Leistungsdispositionen konzentrieren. Mithilfe von Experteninterviews und einem Expertenrating wurden neun affektiv-motivationale Forschungsdispositionen identifiziert, die notwendig sind, um die Anforderungen eines sozialwissenschaftlichen Forschungsprozesses zu meistern. Ein zweites Ziel lag in der Entwicklung und Validierung von Testinstrumenten zur Erfassung der identifizierten affektiv-motivationalen Forschungsdispositionen. Basierend auf den Standards der psychologischen Testkonstruktion konnten Selbsteinschätzungsskalen für alle neun affektiv-motivationalen Forschungsdispositionen erarbeitet und Validierungsnachweise erbracht werden. Diese Arbeiten bildeten die Grundlage für das Erreichen des dritten Ziels: Es sollte getestet werden, inwieweit die Teilnahme am Forschenden Lernen zu einer Entwicklung kognitiver und affektiv-motivationaler Forschungsdispositionen führt. Das Forschende Lernen ist ein didaktisches Format, bei dem Studierende eigenständig einen Forschungszyklus durchlaufen, um eine Forschungsfrage zu beantworten. Bis dato lagen zwar theoretische Postulate zur Wirksamkeit Forschenden Lernens in den Sozialwissenschaften vor, aber kaum empirische Befunde. Im Rahmen einer Prä-Post-Studie (N=952) in Veranstaltungen des Forschenden Lernens zeigte sich, dass Studierende sowohl positive als auch negative Entwicklungen verschiedener Forschungsdispositionen aufweisen. Als zentral erwies sich die Rolle der begleitenden Lehrperson. / This dissertation addressed three central goals using a mixed-methods approach: The first goal was to develop a comprehensive model of affective-motivational research dispositions for students of the social sciences since existing models of research competence concentrate on cognitive dispositions. With the help of expert interviews and an expert rating, nine affective-motivational research dispositions were identified. The second goal was the development and validation of test instruments to assess the identified affective-motivational research dispositions. Based on the standards of psychological test construction, self-assessment scales were developed for all nine affective-motivational research dispositions and evidence for their validity was generated. These previous steps formed the basis for addressing the third goal: To test whether research-based learning is a suitable format to foster different cognitive and affective-motivational research dispositions in the social sciences. Research-based learning is a didactic format in which students complete a full research cycle to answer a research question. So far, there are many theoretical claims on the effectiveness of research-based learning in the social sciences but a lack of empirical evidence. In a pre-post study (N=952) in research-based learning courses, it was shown that students benefit from a favourable development of some of the research dispositions, whereas other dispositions decreased. The role of the facilitating instructor proved to be central.

The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) is one of the leading Asian universities. The University of Tokyo Forests (UTF) was established in 1894 as the first university forest in Asia. To date, UTF owns seven forests and has accumulated long-term data regarding forest ecosystems, conifer plantations, and selection cutting with natural regeneration, in addition to data regarding meteorology and hydrology. In terms of quantity and quality, this longitudinal dataset is among the best available in the world of forest science. A teaching staff of 26 people belongs to UTF. The advantages of studying under the supervision of UTF staff members are as follows. First, students have the opportunity to gain broad disciplinary knowledge from the 26 members of the teaching staff. Second, they can use UTF as a context for their research fieldwork, relying on good research facilities supported by a 50-strong technical staff. Third, they can utilize longitudinal data accumulated by UTF over a period of more than 100 years. Students from at least ten countries have been supervised at UTF. Students are selected, in particular, from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. UTF has also provided fieldwork classes for students of foreign universities, such as Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the National Taiwan University. These students gain experience in disciplines such as forest vegetation and forest management, where Japanese practice differs from that of their own countries. Students can stay at UTF lodges for a modest fee. Students from European universities are also welcome to undertake fieldwork courses at UTF. We accept interns from overseas. Recently, interns from European universities have been increasing in number. The unique culture of Japan - with its traditional features and more modern ones, like the Japanese comics manga - are fascinating to European students. UTF provides the best environment for forest education in Asia.