Abstract:
esearch
is
an
important
and
necessary
part
of
modern
university
education;
Univesities
are considered as producers of new knowledge. The Kenyan universities and other
universities in developing countries have been rightly accused of giving more focus to
teaching than research. The role of postgraduate students in the life and growth of
univrsities cannot be over-estimated. Universites should therefore encourage both
individual student authorship and joint authorship by academics and postgraduate
research students in appropriate levels. Based on a study conducted in the School ofEducation ofMoiUniversity,this
paperfocuses on the institutional factorsthatimpact
on the quality and quantity of research output by postgraduate students in Kenya. The
study sought to investigate the factors that influence research output
among postgraduate students‘ in Kenyan public universities in order to provide suggestions that will make
universities more productive organizations. The study employed a descriptive survey
design.The research used stratified random sampling and purposive sampling.The study involved all the 4 departments within theSchool of Education. A total of 285 postgraduates were selected out of an accessible
population of 1148. Eight (8) postgraduate alumnae and three (3) HODs‘ were also included in the study. Data was
collected using questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis. Data was
analysed
qualitatively
and
quantitatively.The findings of the study revealed that instit utional factors explained theLow research
output among postgraduate students inKenyan public universities. The researcher recommends that the university review its research policies to adequately
gather for postgraduates‘ needs. Postgraduates n form the highest constituency of public
universities and itis timThe research
output is seriously interrogated.
