Assessing the Reluctance Towards Research: A Case Study on the Students of the University of Chittagong

Abstract

The students at public universities in Bangladesh show reluctance or a lack of interest when it comes
to participating in research activities. Many underlying causes that prevent students from actively
participating in research projects can be the reason behind this reluctance. To analyze the causes of
this hesitation and gain an understanding of the students’ perspectives, a thorough case study was
carried out from June 2023 to February 2024. This case study aimed to evaluate the students at
the University of Chittagong’s resistance to conducting research. Significant challenges observed
in this study included a lack of information on research, insufficient supervision or mentorship,
motivation concerns, a severe academic burden, restricted access to research resources, limited
access to respondents, and a refusal to share data. To address these challenges and foster a researchfriendly environment, it is recommended that research awareness programs be strengthened,
mentorship and guidance be strengthened, academic workloads be balanced, access to research
materials be improved, a culture of data sharing be promoted, and interdisciplinary research
opportunities be encouraged.