CATEGORIZING RESEARCH SKILLS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS: EXPLORATORY STUDY

This study aimed to categorize the research skills among graduate students through Exploratory Sequential Design. The underlying factors which emerge for each item analysis include Researchers’ skills and Capabilities, Researchers’ Excellent Qualities, and Researchers’ Excellent Characteristics. There were 17 respondents used in the study. The data gathered through interviews, focus group discussions, and survey questionnaires. It was found out in the KMO and Bartlett’s test of sphericity that the factors loading of the emerging themes is adequate and suitable for factor analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis was structured into three factors namely: Factor 1 described the Researchers’ skills and capabilities of which 14 items were retained, factor 2 described the Researchers’ Excellent Qualities of which 6 items were retained, and factor 3 described the Researchers’ Excellent Characteristics of which 4 items were retained. A total of 24 items suitable and adequate tool to evaluate the categorization of research skills of graduate students. Each factor is represented by its number of items. Thus, findings revealed that based on qualitative interviews four themes emerge such as Viewing research as a rewarding experience, Meeting Obstacles in the journey of a researcher, Enriching and encouraging working environment, and becoming resilient and broad minded amidst challenges which indicate the categorization and research skills of graduate students. Thus, it is recommended that researchers should have in depth knowledge in doing his research study.