Abstract
Higher National Diploma (HND) students of faculty of Engineering in the Ghanaian Polytechnics
embark on research methods as a mandatory module in second year of their studies. The need for the
module is to improve students’ knowledge and skills on the concept of research methods that will
enable them to design and carry out suitable research methodology during their final project work
write-up. However, the rate at which student’s trail the module and the poor standard of project works
that is produced is an indication that students have no interest in the research methods as a subject. As
a result, this study seeks to explore the perception of students on the teaching of research methods.
This exploratory study collated data using extensive interviews with ten students who passed and ten
who trailed the module which were selected via purposive sampling technique from each of the
departments within the faculty of engineering. The information gathered using semi-structured
interviews were reordered and transcribed. The study revealed that the method applied in teaching
research methods subject do not fully engage student’s interest, this has caused students to perceive
research to be just an ordinary module and a mere formality that needs to be done and submitted.
Further, it was established that students tend to be more interested in courses in line with their career
rather than research methods. Also, offering research methods just for a semester alone is not adequate
for students to have comprehensive understanding. The study recommends that Lecturers must
endeavour to design interactive sessions with students. Research methods must be redesign to be
taught be taught from the first year through to the final year. The main component parts research must
be taught and fully completed with feedback from students from students’ depicting their
understanding before commencing another part.