Evaluating the perspectives and skills related to research among students in graduate teacher education within the context of the Philippines

Abstract

This study investigated the research attitudes and capabilities of 338 graduate teacher education (GTE) students taking a Master of Arts in Education who enrolled in a Research Methodology course at a Philippine state university from 2022 to 2024. A descriptive correlational research design was employed using adopted questionnaires to assess the respondents’ attitudes toward research using five components. Further, the research capabilities of the respondents were also evaluated. The respondents were chosen using convenience sampling from all subject enrollees within the prescribed school year. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to treat the data. The results revealed that the respondents had a very positive attitude toward the usefulness of research, a very positive attitude towards research, and a positive attitude toward research relevance to life while having negative attitudes toward research anxiety and difficulties. Moreover, the respondents are highly capable in the research process while they are capable of participating in research-related activities. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the usefulness, positive attitude, and relevance of research and research capabilities. The findings highlight GTE students' research attitudes and capabilities, offering valuable insights that encourage and support their pursuit of the research writing process.