Abstract
In this study, we developed and validated an instrument for measuring postgraduate competence and examined the relationships between postgraduate competence and academic research performance, along with the mediating role of psychological capital. Based on two independent samples, the results provided robust evidence of postgraduate competence composed of six dimensions. Adopting a two-wave survey at two different time periods, we conducted a questionnaire survey on 364 postgraduates from three top universities in China by random sampling. The results indicated that postgraduate competence was positively associated with academic research performance. Among the competences composed of six dimensions, research ability was the most predictive dimension of academic research performance. Additionally, psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between postgraduate competence and academic research performance. These findings contributed to the ongoing discussion about improving postgraduates’ academic research performance under the circumstance of competence-based education.
Highlights
College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Abstract: In this study, we developed and validated an instrument for measuring postgraduate competence and examined the relationships between postgraduate competence and academic research performance, along with the mediating role of psychological capital
The factor loadings of the postgraduate competence model are presented in the right column of than the six-factor model, suggesting that postgraduate competence is a multidimensional construct composed of six dimensions
Higher education institutions play a critical role in societal transformation toward sustainability through the development of students’ academic research abilities
Summary
College of Public Administration, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; Abstract: In this study, we developed and validated an instrument for measuring postgraduate competence and examined the relationships between postgraduate competence and academic research performance, along with the mediating role of psychological capital. Psychological capital partially mediated the relationship between postgraduate competence and academic research performance. These findings contributed to the ongoing discussion about improving postgraduates’ academic research performance under the circumstance of competence-based education. There is international consensus on the concept that to attain a sustainable world, it is necessary that institutions of higher education encourage their students to acquire the academic research competence needed to be able to enhance technological innovation and advancement [4]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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