The Investigation of Postgraduate Students’ Scientific Research Competencies and Anxieties towards Research in Terms of Various Variables
Journal Title: Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi - Year 2018, Vol 8, Issue 2
Abstract
In this study, a group of postgraduate attendees who participated in the training supported by TÜBİTAK and called “Scientific Research Project Preparation Training in Social Sciences” were examined in terms of their research competencies, anxieties towards scientific research and other various variables. This training aimed to help the postgraduate attendees gain experience about scientific research project process. In order to facilitate the preparation of scientific research project proposals, participants were informed about the types of projects that could provide them with financial and workforce support. Additionally, they were shown and motivated to discuss some sample proposals that were accepted and rejected. They also worked on developing and improving existing project ideas or proposals. In this research, mixed research method was used with the simultaneous collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative dimension was designed in accordance with survey model whereas the qualitative part utilized case study design. The research was carried out with a total of 164 participants from 28 different departments at 27 different universities who were masters or doctoral students. However, there were also participants who have recently completed postgraduate studies and were waiting for the assistant professorship or those who have become an assistant professor recently. In the study, two separate scales were employed as quantitative data collection tools to measure participants’ research anxiety and research competency. The self-evaluation form developed by the researchers through the elicitation of expert opinion and piloting was used in order to better interpret the obtained quantitative data and to discuss it in more detail. For the statistical analysis of quantitative data, Mann Whitney-U test and Kruskal Wallis H test were preferred as non-parametric tests while Pearson’s Correlation Analysis was used to determine the relationship between research dimensions. According to the findings of the research, it was revealed that the participants’ research competencies were quite sufficient whereas their anxieties towards research were above the average or even high. In addition, these findings were investigated in detail in terms of various variables and various suggestions were made to researchers and practitioners.
Authors and Affiliations
Serhat ALTIOK, Erman YÜKSELTÜRK, Mehmet ÜÇGÜL
Keywords
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- EP ID EP450389
- DOI 10.5961/jhes.2018.277
- Views 120
- Downloads 0
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