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An increasing amount of quantitative research has shown that nurses face considerable organisational and motivational barriers to conducting research. However, there is comparatively little qualitative information offering more detailed and subjective information about the research experiences of graduate nurses. The aim of this research was to explore graduate nurses ’ perceptions of the nursing research and development (R&D) culture in one health trust in the United Kingdom (UK). The research was conducted in two phases. Phase one consisted of a questionnaire survey investigating areas thought to be important for the development of a research and development culture. Phase two consisted of three focus group discussions (N 20) exploring the nurses ’ experiences and any barriers and facilitators to conducting research. This paper reports findings from the focus group data that provided further understanding about the meaning of research for graduate nurses. Participants’ accounts were underlined by a strong rhetoric of support for research governance, with participants expressing intentions to conduct research but inhibited by cultural and organisational barriers. Education was also a strong determinant of research engagement, with participation in research education proving to be both a barrier and a facilitator. The study has implications for educationalists and the formation of R&D strategies in health trusts