Investigating Research Skills of Graduate Students of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural ResourcesUniversity

The purpose of this study was to investigate research skills of graduates'' students of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University. Survey method was applied in this research. The statistical population of this research was M. Sc. and Ph. D. students of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University from which 68 students were selected. A questionnaire was developed to gather data. Validity and reliability of the research instrument were confirmed based on the evaluation of a panel of experts and Cranach''s Alpha coefficient respectively. The findings of research indicated that students'' information seeking skill was excellent but their research methodology، statistical and writing skills were acceptable. The results of correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between information seeking skill، research methodology skill، statistical skill and writing skill with each other and with total research skill. The relationship between number of papers published، number of research projects and students'' statistical and writing skills were also significant. Applying t test revealed that there was a significant difference between students'' research skill based on educational level and attending to research methods course. In addition، the results indicated that there was a significant difference between students'' writing skill with regard to sex and educational level. On the other hand، students'' statistical skill was significantly different in the case of variable such as educational level and attending to research methods course