Students’ Gender and Application of Research Skills in Health Training Institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of students’ gender on application of research skills of Health Training Institutions in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design using a sample of 230 completed National and Higher National diplomas research projects of College of Health Technology, School of Health Information Management, and School of Nursing and Midwifery in Cross River State for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions through stratified random sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a 16-item Assessment Rating Scales on four major research skills, (namely: problem articulation, hypotheses formulation, literature review and statistical analysis skills). The population t-test and independent t-test statistical tools were used to test the two null hypotheses at .05  alpha level. The results of the study revealed that:: i) Application of research skills in terms of problem articulation, literature review, formulation of hypotheses, and statistical analysis is significantly high and ii) students’ gender significantly influenced application of research skills in terms of problem articulation, hypotheses formulation and statistical analysis while that of organization of literature review was not significant. It was concluded that the students investigated benefited significantly from the teaching of research methodology in their institutions. Recommendations were made.