Individual Differences in Research Self-Efficacy of Physical Education and Sport Sciences Master's Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the research self-efficacy profile of physical education and sport sciences master’s students and to determine individual differences. To this aim, 112 students (49 males and 63 females) from Islamic Azad universities of Golestan province in a cross-sectional descriptive study, completed individual information form and research self-efficacy scale. Resulted data were analyzed using one-sample t test and multivariate analysis of variance at 95% confidence level. Results showed that research self-efficacy of physical education master’s students at Islamic Azad universities of Golestan province in all dimensions and overall level are higher than average level. However, research self-efficacy level in development and use of instrument, research design, and methodology were lower than other dimensions. Furthermore, none of main effects of individual characteristics including gender, bachelor major, type of master enrollment, place of education, educational orientation, athletic experience, and type of occupation on the dimensions and overall level of self-efficacy were not statistically significant. Findings of the study not only highlight master students’ weaknesses and strengths regarding their confidence level on own research abilities, but also suggest that individual characteristics could not be a basis for judgment on master students’ research self-efficacy in physical education and sport sciences.