Self-efficacy for research in university students in Peru

Abstract

Research becomes a transversal axis in the daily life of students to the extent in which both the processes of self-confidence and interest in learning to investigate are motivated. The objective of this study is to determine the level of research self-efficacy that university students of Peru. The approach was quantitative, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and descriptive level. The participants were 237 students of both sexes, from public and private universities. The data was collected using the Research Self-Efficacy Scale (EAI), an instrument composed by 26 items in a format of 11 multiple choice options that considers the dimensions: management systems, capacity for analysis and synthesis, scientific writing, analysis of data and interpretation of results, and ethical aspects. Data processing was carried out with SPSS v. 26. The results showed that self-efficacy for research in university students was of a medium level; It was also determined that the management systems dimension is low compared to the scientific writing dimension, which had a high level. It is concluded that self-efficacy is associated with the male gender and the type of public university at a high level; these characteristics are opposed to the average level of self-efficacy linked to the female gender and the type of university; regarding self-efficacy for research.