Abstract
This research investigates the parameters of scientific knowledge production and the challenges that face female postgraduate students at Sultan Qaboos University in this area. The research also examines the sources of acquiring such knowledge and determining the most important variables influencing such sources. This research adopts the sociology of science perspective and attempts to generate some recommendations necessary to develop the research environment. The research uses the descriptive and analytical methodology as a theoretical framework, In particular, the social survey method has been used to devise a standardized measurement tool to diagnose and measure the various dimensions of the phenomenon. It has been found that there is a variety of knowledge acquisition sources available for female postgraduate students have, and that there is continuity of reliance on traditional sources even when the role of the internet has emerged as an important modern source of information. It was also found out that the standard of knowledge acquisition and generation environment has improved, despite certain challenges such as lack of foreign language proficiency skills on the part of female postgraduate students. This is coupled with the difficulty of accessing electronic sources as well as other challenges related to family commitments and the general weakness of the social climate surrounding the process of knowledge generation. In addition, it has been found that the time allotted to these students was not adequate as they were not full time students. There was also difficulty of meeting with supervisors and lack of specialized references in Arabic. The research put forward some recommendations to enhance the process of knowledge generation and acquisition particularly in relation to female postgraduate students.
This research investigates the parameters of scientific knowledge production and the challenges that face female postgraduate students at Sultan Qaboos University in this area. The research also examines the sources of acquiring such knowledge and determining the most important variables influencing such sources. This research adopts the sociology of science perspective and attempts to generate some recommendations necessary to develop the research environment. The research uses the descriptive and analytical methodology as a theoretical framework, In particular, the social survey method has been used to devise a standardized measurement tool to diagnose and measure the various dimensions of the phenomenon. It has been found that there is a variety of knowledge acquisition sources available for female postgraduate students have, and that there is continuity of reliance on traditional sources even when the role of the internet has emerged as an important modern source of information. It was also found out that the standard of knowledge acquisition and generation environment has improved, despite certain challenges such as lack of foreign language proficiency skills on the part of female postgraduate students. This is coupled with the difficulty of accessing electronic sources as well as other challenges related to family commitments and the general weakness of the social climate surrounding the process of knowledge generation. In addition, it has been found that the time allotted to these students was not adequate as they were not full time students. There was also difficulty of meeting with supervisors and lack of specialized references in Arabic. The research put forward some recommendations to enhance the process of knowledge generation and acquisition particularly in relation to female postgraduate students.
