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Research skills for university students' thesis in E-learning: Scale development and validation in Peru
Author(s)
Ipanaqué-Zapata, Miguel
Universidad Norbert Wiener
Bazalar-Palacios, Janina
Universidad Tecnológica del Perú
Arhuis-Inca, Wendy
Universidad Señor de Sipán
Quiñones-Negrete, Magaly
Catholic University Los Angeles of Chimbote
Villarreal-Zegarra, David
Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica
Date Issued
16 de febrero de 2023
Type
Article
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Volume
9
Issue
3
Series/Report No.
Heliyon
Contained in
Heliyon
ISSN
2405-8440
Abstract
Background The aims of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and to characteristics of a scale on research skills as well as to characterize the experience of university thesis students using information databases (i.e., Scopus or Web of Science) and bibliographic reference managers. Methods A sample of 1598 university students from five departments, acroos the different campuses of one Peruvian university. The psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated using factor analysis and measurement invariance according to sex and age groups. In addition, an internal consistency analysis was conducted for scale reliability using Cronbach's alpha, ordinal alpha, and the omega index. Results Our study identified that the unidimensional model with correlated errors showed adequate indicators of reliability and goodness of fit, with the exception of the RMSEA, which shows values higher than 0.08. Measurement invariance by sex and age group was present. The majority of university students in E-learning showed use of the bibliographic manager Mendeley (52.13%), low ability to use information databases such as Scopus (22.24%) or Web of Science (17.26%), and the least skilled research skills were in formulating the problem, objectives, and hypotheses (51.63%) and carrying out data analysis and processing using statistical techniques (49.37%). Conclusions The conclusions of the study were that the 8-item research skills instrument presents acceptable psychometric indicators in Peruvian university students in thesis courses. Likewise, a scarce use of global databases, the approach to the research topic, and carrying out its statistical processing.