COMPETENCIES INFLUENCING MASTERS STUDENTS’ USE OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN RESEARCH: A CASE OF UNIVERSITIES IN WESTERN KENYA

Abstract

Knowledge is key aspect to realize any progress or prosperity in various spheres. Knowledge is attributed to successful innovation in firms and research has been identified as an important source of knowledge. University students in Kenya have been accused of doing low quality research. One of the major components of research is data analysis that is either qualitative or quantitative. In quantitative analysis statistics is mostly used. Statistics start at the planning stage to establish the design and sample size all the way to data analysis. However, simple statistical notions were sometimes misunderstood or misinterpreted by research workers in many disciplines who have limited knowledge of statistics. The purpose of this study was; to determine the competencies influencing masters’ students’ use of statistical analysis in research, a case of universities in Western Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to determine; knowledge needs to use statistics; how prior knowledge influences use of statistics; how the masters’ curriculum content and implementation meets the needs for use statistics; and how technological resources and personal factors influence use of statistical analysis in research. The study was based on normative paradigm and interpretive philosophy. The study used descriptive survey design complimented with case study design. The study used random sampling and purposive sampling to sample respondents. A total of 83 respondents from 3 different universities participated in the study. Frequencies and regression analysis were used to analyze data. The study found that all the competencies under investigation explained 79.8% of how the students found use of statistical analysis in research. Students’ prior knowledge in statistics explained 45.6% of how student found the use of statistics; curriculum implementation explained 21.4%; technological resources explained 11.2% and personal factors explained 1.5%. Despite the contribution of each of the four competencies in this study, 68.4% of the masters students struggled to use statistics in research. The study exposed flaws in training of researchers in use of statistics. The study therefore noted that competency in use of statistical analysis in research was widely informed by; adequate prior knowledge in statistics, adequate training based on a rich curriculum in statistics and adequate technological resources. The students should also be motivated and put in adequate efforts to learn how to use statistics in research. If at all the universities studied wish to be in the league of research universities, they had no choice