Unveiling the skills of a good researcher: A study of Ph.D. Scholars at GBPUAT

Abstract

The quality and impact of academic research are profoundly influenced by the skills and attributes of the researcher. Research is a cornerstone of academic and scientific advancement, but the success of any research endeavour hinges largely on the qualities and competencies of the individual conducting it. This study investigated the essential qualities of a good researcher as perceived by Ph.D. scholars at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Uttarakhand. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 198 doctoral students was selected, and data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The data was processed using descriptive statistics and Garrett’s ranking. The findings of the study revealed that majority of scholars belonged to 24.34-31.01 age group (62.12%), women scholars of 66.67 per cent, unmarried students (81.82%), English-medium schooling (77.28%), GPA ranging from 7.1 to 8.8, students getting scholarships (82.32%). Findings revealed that the ability to set goals, problem-solving, communication skills, the ability to develop aims and objectives and the ability to stay motivated and interested were ranked as the first four most critical skills. In contrast, conceptual understanding of research paradigms, adaptability, and certain technical skills such as IT proficiency and data analysis were ranked lower. These insights can inform institutional policies aimed at fostering holistic research capacity among emerging scholars.