Problems Faced b y Post Graduate Students During t he Research Process

Abstract

In order to graduate and obtain a master's degree or doctorate, a post-graduate student must conduct research process. The post-graduate research process has challenged many students and some students leave the course for a certain period while others failed to complete their research. This study was conducted to explore the major problems faced by post-graduate students in Malaysia to conduct a research. The researchers used qualitative research design using a semi-structured interview method. The instrument of this study is the interview protocol. Interview participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. The participants in this study were 31 people consist of twelve Master Degree and ten PhD students who failed to complete their studies in the social science field in public universities in Malaysia. In addition, the participants also consist of supervisors who have had experience in supervising post-graduate students for over 10 years ie nine Professors. Data from participants were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Based on the results of the qualitative study, it has been found that there are six common factors related to the problems faced by post-graduate students in Malaysia during the research processes such as knowledge, personal problems, personality, management, thinking and reading. Besides, this study found that the effects of the problems faced by post-graduate students during the research process that is of no interest, no focus, stress, running out of ideas, do not achieve the desired targets, ongoing concerns, loss of commitment, slow in complete the research and failed to complete the study.