An Analysis of Students’ Difficulties in Conducting the Scientific Research: A Case of Study of English Education Study Program and Economic Education Study Program of Universitas Negeri Gorontalo in Indonesia

Abstract

This current study explored the students’ difficulties in conducting scientific research at the undergraduate level. This study was done in the English Education Study Program and Economic Education Study Program of Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. It utilized the descriptive qualitative design. Three undergraduate students at the English Education Study Program and three undergraduate students at the Economic Education Study Program were selected. Academic advising problems data were collected by using interviews. Data were descriptively analyzed, and this study revealed the students were reported to have experienced academic advising problems. The results demonstrated major factors that caused the students’ difficulties in conducting scientific research were difficulty in determining the topic of the thesis, insufficient knowledge in writing the thesis, anxiety in interacting with the thesis advisors, limited access to interact with the lecturers, limited access to the availability of the books, the student's desire to build friendships and expansion with their advisors, and expectation of joy and excitement that comes with creative work.