Analysis of Gap between Desired and Acquired Levels of Knowledge-related Learning Outcomes of Ph D Graduates

Authors

Munawwar Ahmed

PhD Scholar, Department of Education, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

Ashfaque Ahmad Shah

Professor of Education, Department of Education, University of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Prof. Muhammad Sarwar

Director, QEC, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35484/pssr.2021(5-II)82

Keywords

Acquired Level Desired Level Knowledge-Related Learning Outcomes Ph D Graduates

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse gap between desired and acquired levels of knowledge-related learning outcomes of doctoral programme in 4 public sector universities of the Punjab. The study was carried out in two phases under confirmatory mixed-methods research design. During phase-1, data were collected electronically from 269 from PhD graduates on a self-developed questionnaire to assess their acquired level of knowledge-related learning outcomes. While, in phase-2 of the study, 72 faculty members were interviewed to validate the findings of phase-1.
PhD graduates claimed that they had acquired learning outcomes at high level while faculty members pronounced that PhD graduates’ level of acquisition was medium. Results of one sample t-test revealed significant gap between PhD graduates desired and acquired levels of knowledge-related learning outcomes.The study strongly recommended that the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan should officially include relevant sections of NQF document in the course outlines of doctoral programme.