The Relationship between Self-efficacy in Research and Research Performance; A study on Students of Medical Sciences University of Mashhad

Research is one of the most interesting areas in which the effects of self-efficacy and confidence have been studied but little attention has been paid to it in Iran. The purpose of this study is to survey the relationship between self-efficacy in research and research performance among students of Medical Sciences University of Mashhad. This descriptive correlation study was performed on the population of all students of Mashhad Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Dentistry in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences within 2011-2012 academic years. Using proportional stratified sampling method, the sample size was defined based on faculty and finally 185 students were selected to participate in the study. Questionnaires of research self-efficacy and research performance were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlations, regression, and t-test for independent groups. There was a significant correlation between self-efficacy in research and all its components (excluding self-efficacy in statistics) with students’ research performance (p<0.01). Simple regression coefficients indicated that research self-efficacy scale was able to predict students’ research performance (p<0.05) and the results of multiple regression beta coefficients showed that among seven subcomponents of self-efficacy, only the subcomponent of report writing is able to predict performance (p< 0.05). In addition, the results of independent t-test showed that there was no significant difference between male and female students in terms of research performance. In order to improve students’ research performance, they must be ensured about their capabilities and research skills.