Abstract

Rojas-Valverde, D. (2022). The critical role of the final graduation paper in the process of research formation of the students of human movement science. PENSAR EN MOVIMIENTO: Revista de Ciencias del Ejercicio y la Salud, 20(1), 1-10. Scientific practices are a pillar in the formation of professionals in Human Movement Science (HMS), which brings students closer to identifying and solving context problems. While practical and research experiences are inherent to the process of pedagogic mediation and formation, a factor linked to this process is the development of the final graduation paper (FGP). Thanks to the self-evaluation processes in study curricula, it has been possible to identify that the FGP is one of the factors why terminal efficiency is increasingly lower. This problem has been remedied, among other ways, with the use of other evaluation modes such as the degree exam, which requires less time and is very on-spot for the same factor. While this meets to a certain extent the need to increase the rates of terminal efficiency, it is not considered to be the best academic exercise for the identification and solution of context problems related to HMS. In this respect, it is urgent to re-signify the FGP as a process of teaching/learning of the knowledge, values and skills related to the practice of this profession, instead of reducing it to a homework at the end of the educational stage. For this purpose, it is necessary to link the FGP to course practices, resulting in a gradual construction of the research process, and thus implementing the plans for the design, management and follow-up of the FGP.

Keywords final graduation paper; higher education; degree; graduate