ATTITUDE TOWARDS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN PERUVIAN STUDENTS OF COMMUNICATION SCIENCES

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to comprehensively depict the attitudes towards scientific research held by students pursuing the professional career of communication sciences in Peru, while also discerning any distinctions between students hailing from public and private universities. Method: Employing a descriptive-comparative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design, this study assessed 838 university students from diverse backgrounds, encompassing both public (n=100) and private (n=182) universities. The data collection instruments encompassed a sociodemographic form as well as the Research Attitude Index. Result: The findings of this investigation unveiled discernible disparities in attitudes towards scientific research between students enrolled in public and private universities. Notably, students originating from private universities exhibited a markedly more positive disposition towards scientific research, as contrasted with their counterparts in public institutions. Furthermore, participants attending private universities reported heightened satisfaction regarding the caliber of their university, academic programs, curriculum, faculty, and research prospects. However, this group expressed diminished perceptions of institutional recognition and scholarship availabilities. Importantly, both groups of students demonstrated suboptimal levels of awareness pertaining to their scientific training. Conclusion: In light of the outcomes, it is evident that fostering research competencies among students is imperative. Furthermore, universities must allocate appropriate and pertinent resources to cultivate a propitious disposition towards scientific research. This study underscores the significance of enhancing students' research-oriented attitudes and illuminates the need for institutions to facilitate an environment conducive to the pursuit of scientific inquiry.