A study of the components of research self-efficacy in postgraduate students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2018

Abstract

Students’ research self-efficacy represents their confidence in their own ability to conduct various research activities. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the components of research self-efficacy in postgraduate students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. In this descriptive-analytical study, the statistical population consisted of 200 postgraduate students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences who were selected and studied through simple random sampling. For data collection, a two-part questionnaire was used: a demographic questionnaire and the Lawrence Newman’s research self-efficacy questionnaire. For data analysis, the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used in the SPSS Statistics Software Version 16.0. The results of the study demonstrated that the total mean score of research self-efficacy measured 3.23 ± 0.61 out of 5.0. The dimensions of method and implementation and conceptualization had the highest mean scores, while writing reports and research ethics had the lowest mean scores. In addition, the results of comparing the total score of research self-efficacy with demographic characteristics showed that there were significant differences between research self-efficacy and each of gender and marital status (p > 0.05). The results of the study revealed that the total score of the majority of students’ research self-efficacy scale was above average, and PhD students had more positive attitudes towards research self-efficacy than Masters students.