The Influence of Technological Resources on Masters’ Students’ Use of Statistics in Research

Abstract

Knowledge is vital for development in any sector of the society. For instance, knowledge is attributed with successful innovation in firms. Research has been identified as the main source of knowledge. University students in Kenya have been perceived to be carrying out low quality research. Statistics in research in meant to facilitate communication of findings and support hypotheses, credibility of methodology and conclusion in a given study. Studies have pointed to wrong use of statistics as a contributing factor towards low quality research. The study was; to determine how technological resources influence masters’ students’ use of statistics in research, a case of universities in western Kenya. The study was based on normative paradigm and interpretive philosophy. The study used descriptive survey design complimented with case study design. A total of 83 respondents sampled from three different universities in western Kenya participated in the study. Frequencies and regression analysis were used to analyze data. The study found out that 68.4% of the masters’ students struggled to use statistics in research. Resources in universities that participated in the study were scarce. The study determined that the scarcity was negatively affecting use of statistics in research. The study, therefore, noted that if at all the affected universities wish to be in the league of research universities, they have no otherwise but to equip themselves with resources