How Work-Life Balance and Research Skills Proficiency Affect Research Engagement
This chapter presents how differences in levels of research engagement arise with respect to levels of work-life balance and research skills proficiency among Master of Education students in Uganda. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among two cohorts of the students (N = 102). The work-life balance of the students was generally low (M = 107.48, SD = 23.56). Though the majority of the students, 94 (92.2%), reported high levels of proficiency in research skills (M = 68.96, SD = 10.44), they indicated low levels of communication skills. Significant differences in research engagement existed among the students of different religious affiliations (χ2 = 0.823, p = .05), marital statuses (U = 370.00, p = .027), and levels of research skills proficiency (U = 88.00, p < .01). Implications for educational policy and practice include careful selection and training of adult learners at master's degree level, and staking the students in the research process through effectively imparting 21st century skills.