Relationship between Students’ Scores on Research Methods and Statistics, and Undergraduate Project Scores

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between students’ scores on Research Methods and statistics, and undergraduate project at the final year. The purpose was to find out whether students matched knowledge of research with project-writing skill. The study adopted an expost facto correlational design. Scores on Research Methods and Statistics for 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 were correlated with project scores for 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 respectively. The population for 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 were 86, 90 and 102 respectively.  The respective samples drawn through systematic random sampling technique were 23, 25 and 30. The past questions on Research Methods and Statistics for 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2010/2011 as well as the undergraduate project assessment for 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 were the instruments used for data collection. The three hypotheses for the study were tested at .05 level of significance using the Product Moment Correlation techniques. The co-efficient of determination was used to answer the research questions. The result of the study showed a significant relationship between students’ scores on Research Methods and Statistics and undergraduate projects for 2009/2010 academic session only. The conclusion was that scores on Research Methods and Statistics did not adequately correlate with students’ undergraduate project scores. It was recommended that emphasis on Research Methods and Statistics should be placed on the problem-solving nature of research.