With the joint cooperation of Payam Noor University and the Scientific Association of Iran Public Library Advancement

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Msc, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Qom, Qom, Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the obstacles of Thesis writing for postgraduate students from Zanjan University graduate students’ point of view and presenting solutions for solving existing problems.
Methodology: This study is an applied research which has been carried out through a survey-analytical method. The sample consists of 170 graduate students of Zanjan University who were selected randomly. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data.
Finding: The findings indicated that the students had more difficulties in 'collecting and analyzing data."Compilation of research methodology" is in the second position. Respondents have faced the least problem in the compilation, printing and publication of the findings. Students at the Faculty of Agriculture have faced more problems in the selection stage, but in other stages of the dissertation development, students from all faculties were in the same situation. Also, postgraduate students have more problems than Ph.D. students in the stage of "compilation of theoretical foundations and research backgrounds." In the other stages of the research, there was no difference between the master's degree students and the Ph.D. students.
Conclusion: Thesis writing is a process that begins with the selection of the topic and ends with the publication of the findings, and each of the stages has different activities that need to be considered individually and special planning should be done to solve the identified problems. In this reas each, all of these steps has been studied, which professors of research methods and statistics courses and postgraduate students can take advantage of this in formulating operational policies.

Keywords

Asogwa, V. C., Wombo, A. D., & Ugwuoke, C. U. (2014). Challenges and coping strategies adopted by postgraduate students of agricultural education in thesis writing in Nigerian universities. American Journal of Operations Research, 2014.
 Behzadi, H., & Davarpanah, M. (2009). Factors influencing the research experience of the graduate students at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Library and Information Science Research, 10(2), 227-250. (In Persian)
Bitchener, J., & Basturkmen, H. (2006). Perceptions of the difficulties of postgraduate L2 thesis students writing the discussion section. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 5(1), 4-18.
Changiz, T., Adibi, P. Hosseini, M., Totunchi, M. (2012). Supervisors' views on the problems of the implementation process of general medicine academic thesis in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Amozesh dar olom pezeshki 1(3), 23-33. (In Persian)
 Dehghani, G., & Yamani Douzi Sorkhabi, M. (2009). Students Satisfaction of Thesis Conducting Process and its Related Factors Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Strides in Development of Medical Education, 6(1), 1-9. (In Persian)
Ebrahimzadeh, F., Naserian, J., Ghorbani, M., & Almasi A. (2015). Examining research obstacles from the point of view of professors of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences and its relationship with their research performance. Faslnameh Olom Pzeshki Lorestan, 18(1) 28-41. (In Persian)
Ekpoh, U. I. (2016). Postgraduate studies: The challenges of research and thesis writing. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 6(3), 67.
 El Begikord, Sh. (2014). Identifying the factors affecting the preparation of the thesis from the perspective of faculty members and master's students - a case study of the Faculty of Humanities, Master's thesis, Faculty of Humanities, Danesh kadeh olom ensani Daneshgah elm va farhang. (In Persian)
Erfanmanesh, M. A., Arabi, E., & Asnafi, A. (2017). Temporal analysis of international collaboration network of iranian researchers in knowledge production. Librarianship and Information Organization Studies, 28(2), 141-160. (In Persian)
Ghurchian, N. GH., Arasteh, H. R., & Jafari, P. (2004). Higher education encyclopedia. First edition, Tehran: Persian Encyclopaedia Foundation. (In Persian)
Jafari Chalantari, E. (2007). Examining the obstacles and problems of Isfahan University graduate students in the thesis writing process from the perspective of graduate students and faculty members. Master's thesis. Daneshgah Isfahan, Daneshkadeh olom farh. (In Persian)
Khoshfar, Gh. (2006). Investigating the role of research and research centers in social-economic development, Rahaft, 22, 103-98. (In Persian)
Komba, S. C. (2016). Challenges of writing theses and dissertations among postgraduate students in Tanzanian higher learning institutions.
 Kumar, K. (2008). Research methods in librarianship and information (translated by Fateme Rahadoost and Fariborz Khosravi. Ketabkhaneh melie jomhorie eslamie iran. (In Persian)
Lundgren, S. M., & Halvarsson, M. (2009). Students’ expectations, concerns and comprehensions when writing theses as part of their nursing education. Nurse Education Today, 29(5), 527-532.
 Mansourian, Y. (2009). One hundred points in thesis writing. Kolyat ketab mah, 4, 93-78. (In Persian)
Marshall, G., & Brennan, P. (2008). The process of undertaking a quantitative dissertation for a taught Msc: Personal insights gained from supporting and examining students in the UK and Ireland. Radiography, 14(1), 63-68.
 Masoudi, O. A. (2010). Pathology of communication science theses in Iran. Eslam vapajoheshhaie tarbyate, 4(57), 27-30. (In Persian)
Mizani, M., Khabeiri, M., Henry, H., & Sajjadi, N. (2012). Examining the problems of compiling master's theses in physical education and sports sciences in selected universities. Modiryat Varzesh, 5(16), 149-169. (In Persian)
Mizani, M. (2007). Examining the problems of compiling master's theses in physical education and sports science in selected universities. Master's thesis. Daneshgah Tehran, Dneshkadeh olom tarbyatie. Tehran. (In Persian)
Mousavi, M. F. (2013). Ranking of science production in the top 50 countries of the world. Rahyaf,  32, 37-57. (In Persian)
Odena, O., & Burgess, H. (2017). How doctoral students and graduates describe facilitating experiences and strategies for their thesis writing learning process: A qualitative approach. Studies in higher education, 42(3), 572-590.
 Pariad, R. (2013). Investigating the structural barriers to research among the faculty members of humanities educational groups of Isfahan University and the western region of the country. Majmoeh maghalat va toseheye azad, 2, 233-258. (In Persian)
Pourrajb Ghazimohalleh, E. (2008). Recognizing the problems of writing a thesis in the master's courses of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology of Shahid Beheshti University. Master's thesis in educational management,  DaneshgahnShahid Beheshti, Danshkadeh ravanpezeshki, Tehran. (In Persian)
Powell, R. R. (2000). Basic research methods for librarians. Translated by Nadjla Hariri. Tehran: Islamic Azad University.
Radafshar, A., Sobhani, A., R., & Sadegh, F. (2009). Examining the opinion of Gilan medical students regarding the process of completing the thesis. Majaleh olom pezeshki gilan, 19(74) 86-97. (In Persian)
Sabzevari, S., Mohammad Alizadeh, S., & Azizzadeh, M. (1379). The opinions of the faculty members of the universities of Kerman regarding the existing obstacles in carrying out research activities. Olom pezeshkiehYazd, 8(2) 17-27. (In Persian)
 Salman, H. D. (2017). Writing scientific thesis/dissertation in biology field: Discussion writing problems. Iraqi Journal of Cancer and Medical Genetics, 10(1).
Shahbazi, A., Haraji, A., Sheybani, N. A., Mehrshadian, M., Valaei, N., Hooshyarfard, A., ... & Khajavikhan, A. (2010). Evaluation of the accuracy of research variables, study population, sample size and sampling methods in terms of research methodology in student theses of Islamic Azad University. Journal of Research in Dental Sciences, 7(1), 34-42. (In Persian)
Tasdighi, M. A., & Tasdighi, F. (2009). Obstacles to research and research culture in the higher education system. Mahnameh mohandesi farhangi, 4(35 - 36), 37-47. (In Persian)