The main aim of the M.Ed. course is to provide capability of serving community in general and developing research perception and skills among the students in specific these students in future have to promote interest towards research among the M.Ed., students when they take up their jobs as teacher educators. The main theme of the present study is “A study on research perception among M.Ed. scholars”. The main aim of the study is to find out the level of perception towards research among M.Ed. scholars. Survey method is employed for this study. The investigator has randomly chosen 253 M.Ed., scholar for the study. The findings of the study are (1) There is no significant difference in the mean scores of perception towards research among the M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their gender and level of study. (2) There is significant difference in the mean scores of perception towards research among the M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their age. Etc.,

1. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
1
PERCEPTION TOWARDS RESEARCH AMONG M.ED, SCHOLARS
IN TUTICORIN DISTRICT
K.Thiyagu,
Assistant Professor,
9486812800
thiyagusuri@gmail.com, thiyagusuriya81@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The main aim of the M.Ed. course is to provide capability of serving community
in general and developing research perception and skills among the students in specific
these students in future have to promote interest towards research among the M.Ed.,
students when they take up their jobs as teacher educators. The main theme of the
present study is “A study on research perception among M.Ed. scholars”. The main
aim of the study is to find out the level of perception towards research among M.Ed.
scholars. Survey method is employed for this study. The investigator has randomly
chosen 253 M.Ed., scholar for the study. The findings of the study are (1) There is no
significant difference in the mean scores of perception towards research among the
M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their gender and level of study. (2) There is significant
difference in the mean scores of perception towards research among the M.Ed.,
Scholars with respect to their age. Etc.,
Key words: Research, Perception, M.Ed., scholars

2. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
2
PERCEPTION TOWARDS RESEARCH AMONG M.ED, SCHOLARS
IN TUTICORIN DISTRICT
K.Thiyagu,
Assistant Professor,
9486812800
thiyagusuri@gmail.com, thiyagusuriya81@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Research in education helps the teachers to become more efficient in their tasks,
for effective matter alone is not suffice the teacher should have a sound knowledge in
choosing and using a particular instructional method for a certain learning activity
among a given group of learners. Educationist is researchers and teachers should
combine together their resources and expertise, so make available effective education
for maximum cost, through the use of appropriate technologies and techniques
(Aggarwal, Y.P. 1990). Research carried out to achieve this objective either by
professionals or by private individuals will be of immense help to practicing classroom
teachers facilitating their professional growth (Berliner DC 2002).
NEED FOR THE STUDY
In the fast moving world research has become important intellectual equipment
for the human beings to change their life style according to the needs and necessities of
the society research opens new frontiers in all the fields like medicine, agriculture,
space, business and also in education, one of the important objectives teacher education
is to create awareness and understanding of importance of research in the classroom.
Thus, action research becomes a part of the syllabus where in, the students are expected
to prepare action plans and implement the same during their practicing teaching
sessions. This, in turn is strengthened in the post graduate programme of education
where in dissertation was made a compulsory component by all universities. The main
aim of the M.Ed. course is to provide capability of serving community in general and
developing research perception and skills among the students in specific these students
in future have to promote interest towards research among the M.Ed., students when
they take up their jobs as teacher educators, the main theme of the present study is “A
study on research perception among M.Ed. scholars” the investigator would like to
study to research perception of M.Ed. level.

3. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To find out the level of perception towards research among the M.Ed., scholars.
2. To find out whether there is any significant difference in the mean scores of
perception towards research among the M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their
gender, age and level of study.
3. To find out where there is any significant association between Father’s
Education and their children’s perception towards research.
HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY
The hypotheses of the present study a formulated as follows:
1. There is no significant difference in the mean scores of perception towards
research among the M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their gender, age and level
of study.
2. There is no significant association between Father’s education and their
children’s perception towards research.
METHOD ADOPTED IN THE PRESENT STUDY
In the present study, the investigator has employed the ‘survey method’.
Survey method is a method for collecting and analyzing data, obtained from large
number of respondents representing a specific population collected through highly
structured and detailed questionnaire or other techniques. This method is useful for
developmental studies where the current problems are described, as at present.
SELECTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOOL
As the first step towards the preparation of the research perception scale the
investigator has gone through much research scale, Research book, research journals
and discussion with research educators for collecting statements for the research
perception scale. The final drat if the tool consisted of 40 items. Their choices were
given for each item in the form such as strongly Agree, Agree, neutral, disagree, and
strongly disagree (5 point rating scale) in 5 columns. Each answer was allotted a
maximum mark if five to a minimum mark if one according to the respondents if the
respondents.

4. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
4
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE TOOL
To find out the reliability of the tool, test and retest method was used. The
reliability of the test has been calculated by using Pearson’s product-moment
correlation coefficient formula. The value obtained was 0.87. Thus the validity of the
tool is established by using content validity.
POPULATION AND SAMPLE OF THE STUDY
In this study, all the scholars studying in M.Ed at various colleges
irrespective if the nature if Management and other criteria but located in Tirunelveli &
Tuticorin District, Tamilnadu have been taken as the population for the study. A good
sample must be representative of the entire population for this study, 253 samples has
been collected using random sampling technique.
STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES USED
The following statistical techniques were used in the present study, Mean (M),
Standard Deviations (S.D), ‘t’ test and Chi-square.
ANALYSIS
Objective Testing
Find out the level of perception towards research among M.Ed., Scholars
TABLE – 1
Level of perception towards research among M.Ed., Scholars
Variable
Low Medium High
No. % No. % No. %
Perception towards
research
45 17.8 163 64.4 45 17.8
HYPOTHESES TESTING
Null Hypothesis – 1:
There is no significant difference in the mean scores of perception towards
research among the M.Ed., Scholars with respect to their gender, age and level of study.
TABLE – 2
Significance of difference in perception towards research among
the M.Ed., scholar with respected to their sex
Sex N M SD df t Significant
Male 132 148.07 15.86 251 1.65 N.S
Female 121 144.24 20.47

5. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
5
TABLE – 3
Significance of difference in perception towards Research perception among
the M.Ed Scholar respect to their Age.
Age N M SD df t Significant
Below 25 91 142.43 20.91 251 2.34 S
Above 25 162 148.38 16.29
TABLE – 4
Significance of difference in perception towards research among
the M.Ed scholar with respect to their level of study
Level of
Study
N M SD df t Significant
UG 26 141.54 11.96
251 1.94 N.S
PG 227 146.78 18.83
Null Hypothesis 2
There is no significant association between Father’s education and their
children’s perception towards research.
TABLE - 5
Chi-square value of Perception towards Research of
M.Ed., Scholars in terms of Fathers Education
Fathers
Education
Low Average High
df
2
value
Result
Ob Ex Ob Ex Ob Ex
School 17 20 84 78 8 11
4 15.69 SCollege 13 15 64 59 5 8
Professional 16 11 33 44 13 6
(At 5% level of significance, the table value of 2
is 9.49)
SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS & INTERPRETATIONS
OBJECTIVE FINDING
Out of 253 M.Ed., Scholars, 163 of them were found to have moderate level of
perception, 45 of them were found to have low level of perception and remaining 45 of
them have a low level of perception towards research. 17.8 % of M.Ed., Scholars have
low level, 64.4 % of average level and 17.8% of them have high level of perception
towards research. It is inferred that more number of M.Ed., Scholars have moderate
level of perception towards research.

6. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
6
HYPOTHESES FINDINGS
Gender
The ‘t’ test result shows that, there is no significant difference in perception
towards research and skills among the M.Ed scholar with respect to their gender. This
may be due their interest to know the research methods and also their keen watch about
the update & day-to-day information of new fashion. Both of them have an interest to
get the knowledge of research methods.
Age
The ‘t’ test revels that, above 25 age group students having more mean score
than the below 25 age group students in their research perception. This may be due to
the fact, that today all pupils have proper education in all aspects. Particularly in
Tamilnadu all students were well educated and they are aware of future prospects.
Above 25 age group students have more personal and social experience than the below
25 age group students.
Level of study
The ‘t’ test result shows that, there is no significant difference in perception towards
research among the M.Ed scholar with respect to their level of study. This may be due
the fact that, in the M.Ed. course all the students should do research work in his/ her
specialization. So that all the M.Ed., scholars have a same level of perception in
research.
According to ‘2
’ test results
Father’s Education
The finding of the ‘2’ test is (a) There is significant difference between
perception towards research of M.Ed., scholars and their Father’s Education. The
reasons for the above findings may be the institutional freedom, democratic atmosphere
of home and college, dedicated and highly motivating parents and staff; personal
curiosity, alertness of future forecast etc.
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS & CONCLUSION
Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to
increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study. It is the function of the
researcher to contribute to the understanding of the phenomenon and to communicate
that understanding to others. It provides rewarding learning experiences for students,

7. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
7
and producing graduates capable of high personal and professional achievement. The
strategy underpinning the courses like M.Ed. is to provide a framework for the
acquisition and progressive development of knowledge throughout the learning
experience, to stimulate inquiry into subjects and to develop personal skills which will
equip students for life-long learning (John W. Best and James V. Khan 2004).
Educational research is often undertaken for the sake of Degree and not with a goal to
make a significant discovery (Levine. A 2007). It is also commented that research has
become imitative, repetitive; only oriented towards western culture and philosophy;
instrument oriented rather than goal oriented; statistics dependent in place of mastery of
knowledge domain; and lastly is not out of interest, aptitude of the students (Bracey
GW 1998). Other factors that affect the quality of research conducted by the students
are facilities available, mentors, departmental activities, perception of both staff and
students towards research, confidence etc. All the teacher education programmes must
emphasize to develop a research outlook among the teacher trainees irrespective of the
level of the programmes. It may be in the form of action research in B.Ed. or a
Dissertation in M.Ed. programme. In future it would help them in solving their
classroom related problems in specific and in serving the society in general.
REFERENCES
Aggarwal, Y.P. (1990) Statistical methods: Concept application and computation,
sterling publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
Berliner DC (2002). Educational research: The hardest science of all. Educational
Researcher, 31(8): 18-20.
Bracey GW (1998). Educational research and educational practice: Ne’er the twain
shall meet? Educational Forum, 62(2): 140-145.
John W. Best and James V. Khan (2004) Research in Education, Prentice Hall of
India, Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
Levine A (2007). Educating researchers. Retrieved September 21, 2010, from
http://www.edschools.org/EducatingResearchers/educating_researchers.pdf
WEBLIOGRAPHY
www.netlibrary.com retrieved on 7.1.13
www.ncsi.iisc.ernet.in accessed on 22.2.13.
www.dal.org retrieved on 22.3.13.
www.apa.org accessed on 28.6.13.

8. K.THIYAGU APH JOURNAL PUBLICATION JULY 2013 [Type here] [T
8
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
`
K.THIYAGU (b.1981) was born at Kailasapuram, BHEL Township,
Tiruchirappalli District. He obtained first and second certificates (High school &
Higher secondary) from Boiler Plant Boys Higher Secondary School, BHEL Township,
Trichy. He obtained B.Sc., and M.Sc., (Mathematics) from St.Joseph’s College, Trichy,
affiliated to Bharathidasan University, B.Ed., from Manonmaniam Sundaranar
University, Tirunelveli, M.Ed., from Department of Educational Technology,
Bharathidasan University, M.Phil.,(Education) from Alagappa University, Karaikudi,
M.Phil., (Math) from Periyar University, Salem.
He has 7 years of teaching experience in various organizations. Now he is
working as Assistant Professor from Dr.Sivanthi Aditanar College of Education,
Tiruchendur. He contributed two books earlier in the area of ICT in Education. He also
contributed some research papers and articles in the area of models of teaching, ICT,
Higher Education & teacher education published in important journals in India like “i-
manager” “Edutracks” “University News” “Journal of Educational Research” “The
Indian Educational Researcher” and “New Horizons in Education”.
.