Comparative Analysis of Research Skills and ICT: A Case Study in Higher Education

Abstract

The development of research skills in relation to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is studied in two groups of the Master of Science in Education at a public university of the State of Hidalgo, with the purpose of generating strategies to foster the development of such skills. The methodology approach is a non-experimental transactional design, in which a highly reliable questionnaire with a Cronbach's alpha of .95, was applied to evaluate seven factors. A descriptive statistical analysis of the data was carried out to compare a group of applicants to the master’s program with a group of graduating students. Among the results, it was found that both groups showed a high percentage use of technology with laptops, tablets and cell phones. However, even though both groups reported having received training or having partial knowledge of the use of ICT, only a very small percentage uses these tools as a way to strengthen their research skills. It is therefore proposed to consider these results for the design of strategies that promote the development, knowledge and application of research skills supported by the use of ICT across the different courses that integrate the curriculum, in a way to ensure the best training for students while studying in the science education postgraduate program. Key-words: Research Skills, ICT, Master’s Degree, Postgraduate Program, Student Training.