The Relevance of Master's Theses to the Degree Awarded: The Case of College of Education and Behavioral Studies and Institute of Educational Research at AAU
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of Master's theses to the Degree
Awarded: the Case of College of Education and institute of Educational Research at AA U A
mixed method approach was employed to collect and analyze data for the study. Data was
collected fi'om a total of ill participants (30 instructors and 81 graduate studentj) drawn from
the institute of Educational Research and College of Education and Behavioral Studies using
both open and closed ended questionnaire. Additionally, the researcher reviewed master's theses
reports of the 201112012 graduate students fi'om the Departments of Educational Planning and
Management, Curriculum and Teacher Professional Development Studies and the Institute of
Educational Research. The findings of data analysis showed that the relevance and qualily of the
research carried out by graduate students at the sample programs were not to the required level.
The response of the participants in general indicated that they were not satisfied about the
relevance of their MA research studies. Specifically, inadequacy of funding, lack of strict
admission policy and criteria for topic selection, shortage of time, the overload of advisors, poor
research skill of MA students and some instructors, absence of research policy fi'ame works in
which all researchers should follow, lack of incentives or rewards for the excellent ones
(researchers), weak controlling system of research activities, repetitions of similar research
papers and plagiarism were mentioned as the main challenges. Finally, recommendations to
improve the current situation are forwarded based on the findings.
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Keywords
investigate the relevance of Master's theses to the Degree Awarded