Engineering Master Students' Perceptions and Attitudes toward Research Methods. The Case Study of Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Tangier (FSTT)

The central concern of this paper is to investigate students’ perceptions about the Research Methods Course taught in English at the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Tangier (FSTT). The study results reveal that students find research methods extremely valuable as there has been a genuine attempt to seriously participate in mini collective research projects under constant supervision by their mentor. Students expressed a predisposition toward research. This is merely indicative of their prior mindfulness of the paramount importance of research not only in their academic trajectory, but also in their professional endeavors. Students’ familiarity with and exposure to research terminologies, such as research proposal, literature review, citing and referencing, research designs, data collection methods, data analysis and discussion, and many more has been fundamentally crucial to preparing them to take part in research activities and practices. The researcher utilizes both quantitative and qualitative research analyses by dint of an online questionnaire and focus group sessions in order to be at a better position to investigate the issue at hand, and simultaneously create an opportunity of growth. Furthermore, it is conspicuous that the findings of the current study indicate more useful implications pertinent to students’ engagement, participation and commitment in the Research Methods Course