Research interest in nursing undergraduate students: an exploration of research-linked courses

Background Among Hispanic undergraduate students, the association between research-related coursework and research interest remains largely underexplored. This exploratory study examined differences in research interest among undergraduate nursing students according to their exposure to research-related coursework, drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 106 nursing students from a Peruvian university. Participants completed the Interest in Research Questionnaire (IRQ), which demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α = 0.98). Research interest was compared across four academic-semester groupings reflecting proximal and distal exposure to research-related coursework using rank-based nonparametric methods.Results Significant differences in research interest were observed across groups (Anderson–Darling test = 9.41, p = 0.001), indicating a curvilinear pattern. Students currently or recently exposed to research-related coursework (levels 2 and 4) reported significantly higher research interest than those with more distal exposure (level 3; p < 0.05; medium effect sizes). First-semester students showed research interest levels comparable to those of the proximally exposed groups.Conclusion Research interest may decline in the absence of sustained engagement in research activities, underscoring the importance of early and continuous integration of research experiences throughout undergraduate nursing curricula. The findings also provide initial evidence supporting the use of the IRQ in Spanish-speaking undergraduate contexts.