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Difficulties Encountered by the Student – Researchers and the Effects on

Their Research Output

Conference Paper in SSRN Electronic Journal · March 2013

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.1612050

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 Difficulties Encountered by the Student - Researchers and the Effects on their
Research Output

Anna C. Bocar
Faculty of College of Arts and Sciences
La Salle University – Ozamiz
acb502011@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate the most difficult item student-researchers
of Political Science 8 in La Salle University encountered when they conducted their
research study during the first semester of the school year 2008-2009. The descriptive
survey method was utilized in this study. The researcher – made instruments consisted
of open - ended questions were administered to the 14 students officially enrolled in
the subject, Political Science 8. The study showed that the cooperation of respondents
outside the academic institution is very crucial problem for student researchers. To
some extent, students felt that personal problems like time and stress management
disturbed their concentration. 66% of the respondents found it difficult to finish their
research.

Keywords: student-researchers, difficulties encountered, effects

1. Introduction

Research is conducted to address a particular issue. This is to be done in a

precise and systematic manner to look for new knowledge, skills, attitudes and values,
or for the re-interpretation of existing knowledge, skills, attitudes and values.
Researchers’ task is to make use of the existing data to investigate and find results,
and analyze whether this newly gathered facts are also true to other environment.

In conducting research, researchers must be cautious. They must allocate

plenty of time to complete each stage of the activity. They must be conscientious and
need to work in the library for a certain number of hours each week. They need to add
some more hours or weeks before the scheduled deadline because there are some
things that take more time than what is planned, and there are some stages in research
work that are more difficult than what the researchers expect. In short, there are
unexpected difficulties and problems (Trimmer, 1992) and they may lead to academic
failures. Hence, this study is conducted to investigate the most difficult item of all the
problems that the student-researchers of Political Science 8 in La Salle University
encountered during the first semester of the school year 2008-2009.

According to Logan (n.d.), any time personal problems could occupy some of
the cognitive capacity and interfere academic pursuits. Occasionally, the best solution
to a problem depends on what causes it, in which case, one has to discover why the
problem arises. But in most cases, the best approach is simply to deal with the
problem.

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1612050

 Most of the time research work is found to be a tedious and very tiring work
to do; however, teachers and students can not get away from this work because most
often this is an academic requirement.

There are several items which are considered by the student – researchers in
La Salle University as problems in conducting their research. The researcher wanted
to determine what item or items the student – researchers felt most difficult.

Reports from the University of Cincinnati (2001) declares some common

reasons why college students experience academic problems. It was said that some
students do not have a clear vision regarding their reason for being in college. It could
be pointed out that students are in college since parents insist while not feeling good
on what they are doing. What college students want to do with their life might be
different from what parents lead them to do. Sometimes courses and majors are
chosen by the students to please their parents , but have little or no relationship to
their true interest.

Similarly, in conducting a research one must have the interest of doing it. It is
a very laborious task. A research study cannot be completed when there are no
respondents. Respondents are the ones to give their perception and answers on the
issues in the study. At this point the researcher must have built a friendly relationship
with the respondents for the success of the study. But there might be a problem in
relating with others.

In the words of Horowitz, Rosenberg, & Bartholomew (as cited in Locke,

2005), interpersonal problems are recurring difficulties in relating to others. Locke
(2005) points out that interpersonal problem may be related to expectations for how
others will act. It may be related to how sensitive or insensitive people are to the
reactions of others. Finally, interpersonal problems may be related to expectations for
the self.

Research work requires time. It is rewarding when the goal to finish it is

attained on the target date. A researcher needs to manage time properly. In an on line
article, time management is defined as the process of deciding what needs to be done
and developing a plan and/or timeframe for getting it done. Time management is
about establishing routines, setting goals, and understanding priorities ( “ Time
Management”, 2008).

Dombeck and Wells-Moran (2006) claim that time management skills boil
down to awareness, organization and commitment. One needs to become aware of and
record everything he is doing so that important things will be done on time. One also
needs to commit to keep a schedule, and not wandering off when something more
momentarily interesting occurs. They emphasized that time management and
organization skills are applicable to a wide range of life tasks one might decide to take
on. As it will benefit the person broadly in what ever he/she might do.

Some students work at part-time jobs and/or are engaged in time consuming
extra-curricular activities at the university. The demands of academic assignments
almost require students to have the time management skills of a successful busy

Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1612050

business executive. Unfortunately, not many students know adequate time
management.

In some extent, personal problems may disturb students’ concentration. Logan

(n.d.) says that there are two classes of solutions to personal problems: change the
environment or change your behavior. As a rule, the environment is less susceptible
to change and hence problem solution usually requires behavior modification.

The University of Cincinnati (2001) observes that undiagnosed and untreated

major emotional issues such as loss, depression, and anxiety may cause students to
feel inadequate or result in serious academic difficulties and failure.

2. Theoretical Framework

This study utilized open-ended questions. The theoretical framework below

was developed for the purpose of this study.

Difficulties
Student – researchers Encountered

Effects to Research
Output

3. The Problem

This study was conducted to investigate the difficulties encountered by

student-researchers. Specifically, it aimed to answer the following: ( 1 ) What is the
very difficult problem the student-researchers encountered? ( 2 ) What is the effect
of these difficulties on the required research output?

4. Significance of the Study

Any investigation made is done for some reasons. The results of this study
significantly benefit the following group of people: (1) The Political Science
students as the primary group that will benefit from the results of this study as this
will help them determine the difficulties in conducting a research. (2) The College of
Arts and Sciences administrators will gain insights and will be able to develop
educational strategies to lighten the problems that the student-researchers encounter in
their research work. (3) Through this study the faculty members will be more
responsive on what help they can extend to the make the student-researchers feel
that research work is a fruitful endeavor. (4) This result of this study will enlighten
the mind of other researchers and enrich their understanding of students’ behavior
and could be of great help to them when they conduct studies on related issues.
5. Methodology

5.1 Sample and Treatment of Collected Data

This study was a descriptive survey that utilized a researcher-made instrument

as the main tool for gathering the data. The tool consisted open ended questions
which were administered to the 14 students who were officially enrolled in the
subject Political Science 8 with the descriptive title Research Methods for political
science students in La Salle University. After the collection of the responded
questionnaire the gathered data were tallied. The measurement on what is the very
difficult item of all the problems that the student- researchers encountered was
determined through qualitative description. The researcher set the degree of
measurements for purposes of interpretation as follows:

Frequency of Qualitative Verbal

student–researcher Description Interpretation
who give the item

When the number of The difficulty of the item

student-researchers are is at
11 to 14 Most Very great extent
7 to 10 Majority Great extent
4 to 6 Some Less great extent
1 to 3 Few Least extent

6. Results and Discussion

The data pertained to the difficulties encountered by the student-researchers of

Political Science 8 in La Salle University, Ozamiz City.

Difficulties of the Student-Researchers

The Table below shows the 20 issues considered by the student-researchers as

difficult items in conducting a research study. They are arranged based on how
frequent they are pointed out by the student - researchers.

Table 1
Frequency of the Difficulties Encountered by the Student-Researchers
Qualitative Verbal
Items Frequency Description Interpretation
1.Cooperation of respondents 14
2. Time management 12
3. Stress management 11 Most Very Great
4.Identification of researchable issue Extent
and construction of research title 11

5. Financial problem 9
6. Constructions of interpretation,
analysis, findings, conclusions and 9
recommendation Majority Great Extent
7. Formatting of the text content 8
8. Tallying of responses 7
9. Cooperation between research
partners 7

10. Problem on the statistical

treatment of data or what statistical 5
tool to use Some Less Great
11.Collection and choice of related Extent
studies/theories as bases to support 4
the study

12. Researcher made questionnaire

formulation 3
13. Contradicting ideas / narrow 3
mindedness / conflict in the
organization of thoughts between
research partners
14. Patience of the researchers 2
15. Determination / Drive / intention 2
to finish deteriorates ; feeling to quit Few Least Extent
16. Limited period in doing or
conducting the research 2
17. Negligence in the application of
corrections which increase the 2
printing cost or expenses
18. Conflicting interpretations between 1
the student- researcher and the
teacher-adviser
19. Inexperienced researcher 1
20. Patience of the teacher-adviser 1

The results of the study demonstrated that most of the student-researchers said
that the first four items enumerated on the table above are the items that contributed
very great extent of difficulty in conducting a research study; however, item No.1
which refers to the cooperation of the chosen respondents of the study they conducted
was felt to be the most difficult one.

In conducting a research study, the administration of questionnaire and

retrieval of the same is a means of gathering the data; nevertheless, visibility and
availability of the respondents found to be very difficult for the student-researchers.
To approach unfamiliar respondents and convince them to answer the survey
questionnaire could be very hard for the student – researchers. This affirms the view
of Locke (2005) who states that, people might be sensitive or insensitive to other
people. This kind of attitude affects other people. It may bring good or bad effects but
mostly insensitivity often harm other people and place them in jeopardy. For the
student-researchers, the retrieval of the questionnaires is very significant for them but
they cannot force the respondents when they do not feel like accomplishing the
questionnaire at all.

It can be noted also in the results that there are two aspects to consider with
the first four items with very great extent of difficulty. The two of the items are
academic in nature (Nos. 1 & 4) while the other two (Nos. 2 & 3) are personal in
nature. To value adequate time management is more beneficial than to those who do
not. According to Dombeck and Wells-Moran (2006) time management is applicable
to a wide range of life tasks one might decide to take on. Important things get done
on time when there is proper time management. This can be done and controlled
personally by the student- researchers.

The other items which were considered by the student- researchers as

problems in the conduct of a research study is a combination of academic and
personal aspects. The result explains the words of Logan ( n.d.) which state that “ at
any time when personal problems occupy some of the cognitive capacity they
interfere academic pursuits”.

Moreover, the results revealed that out of the twenty items, nine of them
were described by the student - researchers as items which contributed the least extent
of difficulty in the conduct of research study. This signifies that these items
contributed only a little degree of intricacy in their research work.

7. Summary of Findings, Conclusion, and Recommendations

This study pertained to difficulties encountered by student-researchers.

Students officially enrolled in Research Methods course were divided into groups.
There were 2 to 3 members in a group which resulted in six (6) groups. Findings show
that the item which contributed a very great extent to the difficulty of the students in
conducting their research study is to get a hold on the cooperation of their
respondents. All student-researchers who served as the respondents of this study
found it as very difficult item.

There were only four or equivalent to 2 groups out of 6 groups were able to
finish and submitted their required research output on time. Statistically, only 33% of
the respondents successfully met the required research output. This means that the
66% found it difficult to finish their research paper.

7.1. Conclusion

In the light of this study the researcher concludes that the learning which the
student-researchers got from their class discussions and applied in the conduct of their
research work is not the very reason that results in serious academic difficulties and
failures. The cooperation of the chosen respondents beyond the academic institution is
a very crucial problem. To some extent students also felt that those personal
problems like time and stress management may disturb their concentration.
 7.2. Recommendations

The following recommendations are advanced: (1 ) that student-researchers

should establish friendly relation with their prospected subjects or respondents; (2)
that time management topic be included in the discussion of the subject for the
students to be more aware that time management is precious and this would aid them
in establishing routines, setting goals, and understanding priorities in conducting a
research study; (3) that the subject Research Method be offered in two semesters
instead of one semester to give the student-researchers reasonable time to finish the
required research output with high quality; (4) that the Dean of College of Arts and
Sciences initiates the inclusion of the research courses to all programs offered for the
students’ basic knowledge about research work.

List of References

Dombeck, M. & Wells-Moran, J. (2006). Time Management and Organization.

Retrieved October 15, 2008 from http://www.mentalhelp.
net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=9770&cn=353

Locke, K. D. (2005). Interpersonal Problems and Interpersonal Expectations in

Everyday Life. University of Idaho Journal of Social and Clinical
Psychology, Vol. 24, No. 7, 2005, pp. 915 931. Retrieved October 12, 2008
from www.class. uidaho.edu/klocke/ publications/jscp05.pdf.

Logan, F. (n.d.). College Learning : Ways & Whys. retrieved October 14, 2008
from http://www.unm.edu/~quadl/college_learning/personal_problems.html.

Strong, W, & Lester, M. (1993) . Writer’s Choice. Glencoe Division of

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill School Publishing Company

Time Management for Students.(2008). Retrieved October 15, 2008 from

http://www.pleasval.k12.ia.us/ studyskills/studenttimemanagement.htm.

Trimmer, J. F. (1992). Writing with a Purpose. Ball State University. Houghton

Mifflin Company.

University of Cincinnati Psychological Services Center. Evening Clinic, and the

Division of Student Affairs and Human Resources. (1997-2001). Retrieved
October 12, 2008 from http://www. campusblues. com/acad.asp.

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