The Effective Factors on the Postgraduate Students’ Interest and Participation in Performing Research Activities - Case Study: Kermanshah University of Medical Science

Abstract

Background: Over the past decade, new dynamics have emerged in each of the key domains of higher education, research and innovation; therefore, considering effective factors on performing research activities is so necessary. The aim of the present study was to determine the factors influencing on postgraduate students’ interest and participation in research activities. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive–analytical study was performed in all postgraduate students of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (75 people). The researchers-made questionnaire has been used for identification the effective factors on performing research activities among the postgraduate students. In this study we used a Likert Scale based questionnaire (Very Low=1, Low=2, Average=3, High=4 and Very High=5). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. Data analysis was done Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests for variables for 2 or three groups, respectively. Also One-Sample T-test and Friedman test have been used for identification of effective factors and priority order of these factors. Results: The results show that the viewpoint of students in different schools, different age groups and between students with and without research experience has significant difference in relation to the role of effective factors on research activities (p<0.05). The efficiency level of these factors was related to: educational and research facilities, organization support (university), research and scientific experiences, other factors and finally the role of professors (p<0.05), respectively. Conclusions: Based on students' viewpoint, educational-research facilities and organizational support play an important role in conducting research activities. Therefore access to internet with appropriate speed, different databases, equipping the research labs for scientific research and providing the advanced laboratory devices, financial support of university research unit and encouraging the postgraduate students in different ways, can strengthen the participation of students in conducting research activities.