Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2-23-2024
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Self-efficacy beliefs are among the knowledge structures that act as a pervasive influence on individual development especially in research competence. Postgraduate students’ research self-efficacy refers to the judgment of their capability to perform academic research tasks.
Descriptive survey research design of the correlational type and total enumeration method was adopted. A self-developed questionnaire was administered to 287 postgraduate students. A total of 203(70.73%) copies of questionnaires were returned and analysed using frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation and pie chart.
The findings of the study revealed that the level of research self-efficacy of postgraduate students in selected universities in South-West, Nigeria was fair. There was no significant difference in the research efficacy of male and female postgraduate students in selected Universities in South-West Nigeria (P= 0.542>0.05). The study therefore concludes that research self-efficacy are key tools that promote research among postgraduate students.
The study recommends among other things that lecturers should motivate and encourage students towards being committed when involved in research before they get to their final year. This will help the postgraduate student to build their research self-efficacy skills.