The challenges and prospects of conducting senior essay research for jimma university undergraduate regular students

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the major challenges and prospects of doing research for Jimma University undergraduate regular students. So as to accomplish this, 250 students were selected from 3 faculties (FBE, FHSS and PHF) through stratified /multi-stage/ random sampling by lottery method and then the data was collected from these students through questionnaires and from respective CBE and research offices through interviews. Research as a course was taken by all students with slight difference due to subject matter difference and it is also, important for doing their respective final research which shows research course act as blue print for doing research. About the major problems or challenges students reported that shortage of time, finance, language problems, data collection problems, shortage of relevant reference materials, personal weakness and other problems hinders the conduction of their research. Other problems of research also which were the result of interviews are plagiarism, problems of publication and dissemination of research findings and lack of conducive environments for research. The students also reported that their senior essay is important which contributes a lot for improving their personal experience, knowledge and skills and widening the scope and improve instructions of their respective fields of study. Finally, I concluded that students faced the following most important problems while doing their research; - Shortage of time - Shortage of finance - Language problems - Data collection problems - Shortage of relevant reference materials