Researching into postgraduate research in Addis Ababa university: Threats to the future generation of social, educational and behavioral researchers

Abstract

Thesis work is customarily regarded as an inevitable requirement qualifying students for postgraduate degree. An inherent feature of this academic pursuit is a requirement to produce an independent piece of scientific work that has some kind of practical and theoretical contributions. The objective of this research was to investigate the competencies of student researchers through a variety of techniques: assessment of the qualities of MA theses produced in three selected departments in Addis Ababa University, reflections of External Examiners (n=10), researchers’ personal memos, questionnaire (n=92 students) and student narratives (n=7 narratives). Thematic analysis and synthesis of data indicated that there is a serious gap in the general, specific and behavioral research competencies of students. The quality of the theses work is to such a level today that appears seriously compromising the standards expected of an MA thesis. Evidences still suggest that doing MA thesis could even become a platform for learning undesirable behaviors and skills that in a way threaten not only the existing academic tradition but at the same time the future generation of social, educational and behavioral researchers in Ethiopia. Some strategies were suggested to avert the threats.

Keywords

• Student research, MA thesis, dissertation, generic research skills, specific research skills