Empirical research studies of practicing engineers: a mapping review of journal articles 2000–2018

ABSTRACT

Empirical research on practicing engineers can inform engineering education as it provides evidence for what engineering students ought to learn. Whilst there has been a growing interest and scholarship in this area, there has not been any systematic attempt to map the empirical research on practicing engineers and develop an agenda for research on engineering practice. To address this gap, we conducted a mapping review of empirical research studies of practicing engineers. We limited our search to studies published in peer-reviewed journal articles since 2000 and identified 187 papers. We used inductive content analysis to categorise the papers intofive research themes: 1) learning in the workplace, 2) competencies and attributes needed for practice, 3) activities undertaken by engineers, 4) diversity, and 5) engineers’ identity. For each theme, we report common findings and gaps that can inform future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Systematic review
• engineering profession
• professional practice
• future engineering practice

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Engineering Practice Academy and the Swinburne librarian for advice on how to conduct this mapping review. We would also like to thank the authors of all the papers we collected, and their research participants, without whom we could not have conducted this study, and the anonymous editors and reviewers who helped us strengthen this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrea Mazzurco

Andrea Mazzurco a Lecturer of Engineering Education in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (FSET) at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Andrea obtained his PhD in Engineering Education from the School of Engineering Education at Purdue University, USA. Andrea’s primary research interests focus on the future of engineering practice, humanitarian engineering, and scenario-based assessment.

Enda Crossin

Enda Crossin an Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Engineering in Management programme at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Enda obtained his PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Queensland, Australia. Enda’s research interests include engineering practice and environmental life cycle assessment.

Siva Chandrasekaran

Siva Chandrasekaran is a Course Director and Major Discipline co-ordinator in the School of Software and Electrical Engineering at the Swinburne University of Technology. Siva is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia. Siva obtained his PhD in Engineering Education from Deakin University. His research interest includes ICT education, IoT, Cybersecurity, and engineering practice.

Scott Daniel

Scott Daniel is a Senior Lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney. A former high school mathematics and science teacher, he obtained his PhD in engineering education from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. His research interests include humanitarian engineering, physics education, and engineering education.

Giovanni Radhitio Putra Sadewo

Giovanni Radhitio Putra Sadewo is a research assistant in the Department of Psychology at University of Melbourne, Australia. Giovanni obtained his PhD in Cross-Cultural Psychology from La Trobe University, Australia. Giovanni's primary research interests are in the application of Social Network Analysis, Intercultural Relations, and Violent Extremism.