ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES USED BY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN ESWATINI FROM 2008 TO 2017

Abstract

Agricultural Education in Eswatini is relatively a young discipline that emerged in the early 1970s; thus, still growing in areas such as research methodologies, rigour and focus among other aspects. Unfortunately, information on methodologies used in Agricultural Education is not systematically documented. Therefore, this study identified research methodologies used in Agricultural Education undergraduate research projects completed from 2008 to 2017 in the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension (AEE) at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). This study was a descriptive survey employing desk review in data collection. Validity of the instrument was ensured through the use of two peers / experts from the Department of AEE, Faculty of Agriculture at UNESWA. Data analysis was performed using frequencies and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that Agricultural Education research was positivistic, quantitative, basic and descriptive in nature. Agricultural Education studies were mainly analysed using descriptive statistics. Thus, the study concluded that generally, undergraduate research in Agricultural Education was mainly descriptive. Therefore, there is a need for Agricultural Education students to conduct research studies that are explanatory, analytical and evaluative.