Dynamics Affecting Students’ Quality Research Work: The Observation of Graphic Design Students
Author(s)
Kwabena Nduro , Eric Kwadwo Amissah , James Kwasi Gyimah ,
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Abstract
There is an ongoing discourse with emphasis on the quality of students’ research work at the Department of Graphic Design Technology, Takoradi Technical University (has reached an alarming height - delete) and the conclusion reached by the debaters is that, the quality of research work among the Higher National Diploma in Commercial Arts (Graphic Design Option) students is dwindling and retrogressing at alarming rate. The missing link which has eluded researchers this phenomenon is their inability to determine what quality is, and the extent to which together with factors affecting quality. In fact, observations with respect to the factors that define quality research seem to be abstract and in most cases not concrete enough. The purpose of this study is to examine the dynamics affecting the quality of students’ research work; this time around, from the perspective of Graphic Design students. The survey and exploratory research method was employed to explore deeper into the issue and its associated factors. The major findings of the study were that Graphic Design students were not enthused about the delivery of the research lecturer and the research methodology course contents at the Higher National Diploma level. The facilities for quality research were nothing to write home about, but the system of supervision was satisfactory. Finally, the Graphic Design students professed they were a contributing factor affecting the quality of research work done at the Department of Graphic Design Technology. The study therefore recommends that an enhancement of the factors of quality, skewing the research methodology at the Higher National Diploma in Commercial Arts (Graphic Design Option) to artistic/practice-based research and scoring, and making it mandatory for the students to start the course at the first year of their studies will inadvertently improve the dynamics of quality research work among the students.
Keywords
Dynamics, Quality of Research Work, Observation of Students, Higher National Diploma, Commercial Arts, Graphic Design Option, Project Work
References
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