Investigating Factors Affecting on the Attitude of Msc. Graduates toward Research (Case Study: Faculty of Agriculture/ Universtiy of Zanjan)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abstract

Abstract: Attitudes toward research play an important role in the quantitative and qualitative aspects of researchers’ efforts. Any planning and policy making of the research needs of identifying university graduate attitude toward research. The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to investigate effective factors on the graduate’s attitude toward research. The population consisted of all 326 graduates who were graduated in the academic year 1390-1391 from the faculty of agriculture, university of Zanjan. 202 graduates were selected based on Krejcie and Morgan table and by using stratified random sampling method. The validity of research tool was verified by a panel of related experts and calculating CVR greater than 0.75. A pilot study was conducted and calculated ordinal coefficient theta was at the appropriate level (equals with 0.86). The results revealed that 67.8 percent of graduates had a positive attitude toward research. Results of stepwise regression analysis showed research self-efficacy, attending number of research methodology and statistics classes and assistance member of research projects, MSc score average, research experience of the supervisor, number of hours devoted to thesis work explained 28% variance of the attitude toward research.

Keywords


Abdullah, M. N. L. Y., & Evans, T. (2012). The Relationships between Postgraduate Research Students’ Psychological Attributes and Their Supervisors’ Supervision Training. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 788-793.
Affandi, H. M.; Amiruddin, M. H.; Hassan, Y. C. & Zainudin, F. L. (2015). Knowledge, Attitude and Awareness towards Research Practice among Malaysian Premier Polytechnics Academics. Journal of Technical Education and Training, 7 (2).1-15
Alghamdi, K. M.; Moussa, N. A.; Alessa, D. S.; Alothimeen, N. & Al-Saud, A. S. (2014). Perceptions, Attitudes and Practices toward Research among Senior Medical Students. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 22 (2), 113-117.
Bibi, F.; Lqbal, H. M. & Majid, N. (2013). Attitude of Prospective Teachers towards Research: Implications for Teacher Education in Pakistan. Contemporary Educational Researches Journal, 2 (1), 08-14.
Bieschke, K. J. (2000). Factor Structure of the Research Outcome Expectations Scale. Journal of Career Assessment, 8 (3), 303-313.
Björkström, M. E. & Hamrin, E. K. (2001). Swedish Nurses’ Attitudes towards Research and Development within Nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 34 (5), 706-714.
Cohen, Y. H. & Reich, Y. (2016). Literature Review Conclusions and Definition of Research Target. In Biomimetic Design Method for Innovation and Sustainability (pp.45-49). Springer International Publishing.
Dickinson, J. I.; Anthony, L. & Marsden, J. P. (2012). A Survey on Practitioner Attitudes toward Research in Interior Design Education. Journal of Interior Design, 37 (3), 1-22.
Eller, L. S.; Kleber, E. & Wang, S. L. (2003). Research Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health Professionals. Nursing Outlook, 51 (4), 165-170.
Emsen, P.; Sultan Kilic, D. & Sorar, H. (2011). An Examination of the Attitudes of Secondary School Students towards Research Homeworks According to Different Variants. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 2574-2577.
Forbes, M. O. & Hickey, M. T. (2009). Curriculum Reform in Baccalaureate Nursing Education: Review of the Literature. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 6 (1), 6-15.
Gupta, M. & Mehtani, D. (2015). Effect of Academic Stream and Gender on Attitude of Research Scholars towards Research. International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences, 5 (6), 177-189.
Moorefield, L. & Heather, M. (2010). Arts Voices: Middle School Students and the Relationships of the Arts totheir Motivation and Self-Efficacy, The Qualitative Report, 15 (1), 1-17.
Hall, P. A. (2006). Systematic Process Analysis: When and How to Use It. European Management Review, 3 (1), 24-31.
Harman, G. (2003). Phd Student Satisfaction with Course Experience and Supervision in Two Australian Research-Intensive Universities. Prometheus, 21 (3), 312-333.
Hattam, C. E.; Lacombe, D. J. & Holloway, G. J. (2012). Organic Certification, Export Market Access and the Impacts of Policy: Bayesian Estimation of Avocado Smallholder “Times‐to‐Organic Certification” in Michoacán Mexico. Agricultural Economics, 43 (4), 441-457.
Holley, L. C.; Risley-Curtiss, C.; Stott, T.; Jackson, D. R. & Nelson, R. (2007). It’s Not Scary, Empowering Women Students to Become Researchers. Affilia, 22 (1), 99-115.
Ismail, A.; Abiddin, N. Z. & Hassan, A. (2011). Improving the Development of Postgraduates' Research and Supervision. International Education Studies, 4 (1), 78.
Jayawardana, J. K. J. P. & Sherief, A. K. (2012). Influence of Socio-Psychological Characteristics in Adoption of Organic Farming Practices in Coconut Based Homesteads in Humid Tropics. COCOS. 19(2), 101–104. DOI: Http://Doi.Org/10.4038/Cocos.V19i2.4756
Lindo, J. L. M.; Holder-Nevins, D.; Roberts, D. D.; Dawkins, P., & Bennett, J. (2013). Shaping the Research Experiences of Graduate Students Using Action Research. Nurse Education Today, 33 (12), 1557-1562.
Lundahl, B. W. (2008). Teaching Research Methodology through Active Learning. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 28 (1-2), 273-288.
Martin, A. J. & Dowson, M. (2009). Interpersonal Relationships, Motivation, Engagement, and Achievement: Yields for Theory, Current Issues, and Educational Practice. Review of Educational Research, 79 (1), 327-365.
Memarpour, M.; Fard, A. P. & Ghasemi, R. (2015). Evaluation of Attitude To, Knowledge of and Barriers toward Research among Medical Science Students. Asia Pacific Family Medicine, 14 (1), 1.
Morgenshtern, M.; Freymond, N.; Agyapong, S. & Greeson, C. (2011). Graduate Social Work Students' Attitudes toward Research: Problems and Prospects. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 31 (5), 552-568.
Murdoch-Eaton, D.; Drewery, S.; Elton, S.; Emmerson, C.; Marshall, M.; Smith, J. A. & Whittle, S. (2010). What Do Medical Students Understand by Research and Research Skills? Identifying Research Opportunities within Undergraduate Projects. Medical Teacher, 32 (3), 152-160.
Oliveira, A. L. & Simões, A. (2006). Impact of Socio-Demographic and Psychological Variables on the Self-Directedness of Higher Education Students. International Journal of Self-Directed Learning, 3 (1), 1-12.
Papanastasiou, E. C. (2005). Factor Structure of the Attitudes toward Research Scale. Statistics Education Research Journal, 4 (1), 16-26.
Potvin, P. & Hasni, A. (2014). Interest, Motivation and Attitude towards Science and Technology at K-12 Levels: A Systematic Review of 12 Years of Educational Research. Studies in Science Education, 50(1), 85-129.
Robinson, G. & Gould, M. (2000). What Are the Attitudes of General Practitioners towards Research? Br J Gen Pract, 50 (454), 390-392.
Seymour, E.; Hunter, A. B.; Laursen, S. L. & Deantoni, T. (2004). Establishing the Benefits of Research Experiences for Undergraduates in the Sciences: First Findings from a Three Year Study. Science Education, 88 (4), 493-534.
Shiri, N.; Alibaygi, A. & Faghiri, M. (2013). Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Motivation of Agricultural Students at Razi University. International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD), 3 (3), 175-180
Treagust, D. & Tsui, C. Y. (2016). Commentary: Developments and Reforms in Science Education for Improving the Quality of Teaching and Research. In science Education Research and Practice in Asia (Pp. 119-128). Springer Singapore.
Usher, R. (2002). A Diversity of Doctorates: Fitness for the Knowledge Economy?  Higher Education Research and Development, 21 (2), 143-153.
Wang, S. C. & Guo, Y. J. (2011). Counseling Students’ Attitudes Toward Research Methods Class. Ideas And Research You Can Use: VISTAS.
Wilson, G. A. & Burton, R. J. (2015). ‘Neo-Productivist’agriculture: Spatio-Temporal Versus Structuralist Perspectives. Journal of Rural Studies, 38, 52-64.
Wilson, S. (2008). Research Is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods. Fernwood Publishing, Black Point, NS, Canada.
Ynalvez, M. A. & Shrum, W. M. (2011). Professional Networks, Scientific Collaboration, and Publication Productivity in Resource-Constrained Research Institutions in a Developing Country. Research Policy, 40 (2), 204-216.