Assessment of Application of Research Skills of Students in Health Training Institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the research skills of students in health institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design using a sample of 230 completed National and Higher National Diplomas research projects of College of Health Technology, College of Health Information Management, and School of Nursing and Midwifery in Cross River State from 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 sessions, through stratified random sampling technique. The instrument used for collecting data for the study was a 16-item Assessment Rating Scale on four major research skills (problem articulation, hypothesis formulation, literature review and statistical analysis). The population t-test analysis, independent t-test analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test the three null hypotheses at .05 alpha levels. The results of the study revealed that: (i) Application of research skills of students in terms problem articulation, literature review, formulation of hypotheses and statistical analysis is significantly high (ii) Students’ area of specialization significantly influenced application of research skills in terms of hypotheses formulation, literature review and statistical analysis while that of problem articulation was not significant. (iii) There is no significant influence of school location on application of research skills in terms of problem articulation and hypotheses formulation. However, school location had significant influence on research skills of literature review and statistical analysis. The study recommended, among others, that workshops and seminars should be organized on a regular basis for students to improve and consolidate on their effective application of research skills.