JONAED

This research studied the connection between learning of research methods and conducting research, among postgraduate students in the universities of south eastern Nigeria. The purpose was to describe the experiences of postgraduate students with regards to learning and doing research. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. A mixed-methods employing descriptive-survey and grounded theory designs were adopted. 102 postgraduate students from four universities were sampled through a snow-ball convenience technique. The study used 20-item structured and unstructured surveys to collect data over a period of twenty six months. Major findings of the research revealed that there was disconnect between what post-graduate students learned in research methods classes and what they experienced during the conducting of research. Studied postgraduate students fell into LEDOR quadrants, and their percentile ranking reported high-high LEDOR = 42%, low-high LEDOR = 3%, low-low LEDOR = 39%, high-low LEDOR =16%. Based on the findings, it is recommended that teacher-researchers provide commensurate hands-on during research classes, and supervisors provide differentiated mentoring.