Research Competence among CAS Students in Relation to a Successful Research Undertaking

To assess whether research competence and information processing are related to a college student’s success in Research subject, the researchers administered a 60-item researcher-modified questionnaire to 18 students from the different programs of the College of Arts and Sciences of Liceo de Cagayan University taking Research 1. In answering these problems, the researchers used the descriptive design. The survey method was also used to gather the data needed. The Pearson r was applied to determine the correlation of the variables involved in this study. The researchers tried to measure Research Competence by categorizing it in five research skills, namely: Information Literacy, Writing Skill, Analytical Skill, Statistical Skill, and Computer/Technology Literacy. Moreover, four (4) phases were measured for information processing, namely: Perceiving, Attending, Labeling, and Giving Meaning. The analyses gave the following results: The students’ levels of Research Competence positively affected their levels of Information Processing. It was also discovered that respondents had below average Research skill levels particularly in Information Literacy, Statistical Skill, and Computer/Technology Literacy; they also had below average to poor Information Processing levels particularly in the Attending and Perceiving phases. On the other hand, this study could not build sufficient evidence on whether Research Competence and Information Processing were related to students’ success in their Research subject. Findings suggest several variables may have affected the results of this study. In conclusion, students may be research competent but it may not be an assurance if they can pass the Research subject. A qualitative research is recommended for future researchers in order to shed more light on this study.

 

Keywords: Psychology, Research Competence, descriptive design, Philippines