RESEARCH ASSISTANTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF WORKING WITH FACULTY MEMBERS

This study examines the major benefits and challenges of UAE University students who were integrated in different research projects under the supervision of their faculty members. Based on surveys and interviews conducted with nearly 400 students, a mixed methods approach was used to analyze responses from participants who responded to some closed ended and open ended questions, especially in terms of their experience in working with faculty members and the benefits they gained from them and from the research. The results of these methods revealed that, the majority of students found that, their opportunities in the job market widened and they were able to cope up with deadlines when under pressure. Apart from this, studies showed that, students faced some difficulties in terms of duration of the work due to their other course works that conflicted with their research work. The survey indicated that, the majority of students faced challenges like, communicating with other research assistants, especially due to lack of meetings with one another and to know about the work of each one and the way they were proceeding in the research work. Majority of the students preferred to participate in future researches if they had an opportunity to work with some faculty members. However, the interviews results indicated that, the language challenges prevented the students to participate in the research work due to the fear of being wrong in some tasks. The interview of students revealed that, writing was one of the most difficult aspects faced while working under the research, specifically in terms of scientific research writing style, in order to counter this challenge, most preferred certain courses that would enable them to become familiarized with such writing styles. Furthermore, analysis revealed the major goal for the students in the research work was either to gain experience for a career in the research field or to gain the required experience necessary for the job market. The students were judged in different areas in terms of academic as well as co-curricular benefits. In general, results showed that the majority of the students had more or less similar advantages and challenges of working in a research, some students differed in terms of the preferred research environment. The dissertation appendices contain the details of the method and types of survey and interview used along with the research instruments used in the study.