Research Methodology Mastery for Conducting an Islamic Studies Undergraduate Final-Year Project at UiTM Shah Alam

Abstract

The acquisition of research methodology is a crucial competency typically attained by seasoned scholars in academia. However, it is necessary to assess the level of research methodology proficiency among undergraduate students to adequately prepare them for the completion of their final year project, which is a mandatory component for graduation. This study aimed to examine the mastery level of research methodology in preparation for conducting an undergraduate final-year project. The study included a sample of respondents (n=228) who were final-year students in Islamic studies at UiTM Shah Alam. An online questionnaire was employed as a tool for data collection, while IBM SPSS Statistics was used for data analysis. The data underwent analysis using descriptive statistics and the Friedman test. The descriptive statistics indicates “information management” (Good: 53.9 percent, Excellent: 32 percent) as the highest frequency of mastery level compared to “instrumentation procedure”, and “sampling technique” mastery level. The Friedman test indicates a significant difference in “information management” (mean rank: 2.56) which is better than “sampling technique” (mean rank: 1.66) and “instrumentation procedure” (mean rank: 1.77) with χ2(2)137.1, ρ<.05. This study suggests that there is a need for improvement in the aspects of research methodology, specifically in “sampling techniques” and “instrumentation procedures”, particularly among undergraduate students in the field of Islamic studies. This study proposes the implementation of effective pedagogical strategies and a comprehensive curriculum to enhance proficiency in research methodology for future academic pursuits.