Assessment of the Challenges Facing Post-graduate Students in Research: A Study of Universities in Arusha Region

Fatuma Kadoke
Teacher: Muriet Secondary School, Arusha City
P.O Box 12376- Arusha.
Email: mabulawhitney77@gmail.com
Dr. Kennedy Omondi Otieno
Coordinator Postgraduate Studies Research & Publications
St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), Arusha.
P.O Box 12385 – Arusha, Tanzania.
Email: omondiken2016@gmail.com

Abstract: This study investigated the challenges facing post-graduate students in conducting research in Universities in Arusha Region. The study assessed the significance of post-graduate students to conduct research in universities and suggested the intervening measures to the challenges facing post-graduate students in conducting research in universities in Arusha Region. The theory of Communicative Exchanges in Supervision guided the study. Convergent mixed methods design was adopted whereby the researcher collected both quantitative and qualitative data, analyzed them separately, and then compared the results to see if the findings confirm or disconfirm to each other. Data were collected using the questionnaire and structured interview. The study targeted 600 master students and 34 post-graduate lecturers. The sample size consisted of 130 respondents (10 Postgraduate Lecturers and 120 Postgraduate students). The instrument was tested for reliability where Cronbach coefficient Alpha was found to correlate at r = 0.858.While the trustworthiness of instrument for collecting qualitative data was done by ensuring its credibility, transferability and dependability indicating that the instruments were fairly reliable for the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics in the SPSS version 25 and results were presented in charts, tables of frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically alongside research questions. The study revealed that Post-graduate research provides students with decision making and problem solving skills. The study suggested that research experts should disseminate enough knowledge and skills on research methodology to the post-graduate students and the number of research experts in universities in Arusha region should be increased.