Browsing by Author "Nkwabi, Martine Akulunda"

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    Factors slow completion rates of students dissertation in the school of education, University of Dar es Salaam.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2011) Nkwabi, Martine Akulunda
    The study sought to assess factors slow completion rates of students' dissertation in the UDSE. Also, the study sought to examine how quality supervision affects research students' performance, and find out ways for improving supervision and completion rates in the School. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Tue area of the study was UDSE, covering four masters' programmes - MEMA, MEDsc, MAASP and MAED. Data were collected through documentary review, observation, interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis, while quantitative data were extracted, classified and computed into frequencies and percentages, and presented in tables and charts. The major findings showed several factors for slow completion rates in the School. The key factors were students' inadequate research background, supervisors' many competing tasks, students' economic and family problems, poor selection of students to pursue postgraduate studies and poor student-supervisor relationship. Further, factors affecting dissertations completion rates were affecting the quality of the dissertations produced as well. It is thus concluded that slow completion and extensions is a loss. Students, supervisors and the institution should do whatever they can do to eliminate them. The recommendations arising from the study include, on the part of UDSE, to develop strategies for rewarding and punishing supervisors and students depending on the time scheduled for completion and the standard of the dissertations. On the part of research supervisors, they should take note of the various dimensions of supervision in a professional manner throughout the research projects and support a student's growth into a member of the academic community as a researcher and an expert on time. On the part of students, they should commit themselves to their research projects, seeking the highest scientific quality while knowing that research, like the coursework component, is a time-bound activity.