Results and Consideration of the “Survey on Participants’ Perception Changes” During the Osaka University Coupling Internship (Impact of the Program’s Activities on Perception Change)

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze participants’ learning in the Coupling Internship (CIS) and ascertain how they changed their perceptions. During the program, a “survey on participant’s perception changes” was conducted to examine the level of perceptions in the following six items, including one’s weaknesses, strengths, role within the team, contribution to the team, self-confidence, and self-fulfillment. The survey was conducted four times during the program, and the degree of participants’ perception of the six items at each point was investigated. The survey results were used to consider the overall tendency of the participants’ perception changes, the magnitude of change at each point, the activities that particularly influenced the change, and correlations between each item. The findings indicate a tendency for the perception to become more prominent in the latter half of the program. In addition, by comparing the degree of change between the six items throughout the program, “recognition of the role within one’s own team” showed a unique change. Its magnitude became greater every time the survey was conducted, while the time for intensive teamwork was increased toward the final presentation. Furthermore, it was understood that “team discussion” may strongly influence the changes in participants’ overall perceptions.