Understanding the Research Motivations of Post-graduate Students of Social Sciences at Ege University and the Meanings They Attribute to Scientific Research
Project no. 22137 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2020
Summary
One of the significant factors in the academic success of universities is the quality of scientific research conducted by post-graduate students. Increasing the number of qualified scientific studies carried out by post-graduate students helps to achieve and maintain research university status and enhance the visibility of universities due to their contribution to science in different fields. The primary purposes of this project are to explore how post-graduate students of social sciences perceive scientific research, what meanings they attribute to it, and to determine their motivations and obstacles regarding scientific studies. A phenomenological design was used to understand the participants' meanings of scientific research experiences in this qualitative study. The maximum diversity sampling method was applied to recruit participants that met the inclusion criteria. Although the main focus of this research is social science students at Ege University, the academic staff who teach or advise them were included to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The sample size was determined by both the design and the data saturation. In-depth interviews were the primary method of collecting data. As a result of the thematic analysis of interview transcripts, the participants attributed positive and negative meanings to scientific research. In addition, the factors shaping students' academic motivations differed according to the educational program level in which they participated. The participants' concerns over scientific research motivations and their expectations for higher education were listed and discussed. Finally, suggestions are made in order to contribute to a better research university culture.