Challenges in Writing a Research Paper: Study of Undergraduate Students’ Experiences

Abstract

This study aims to describe the difficulties of undergraduate students in writing research papers, intending to determine the prevalence of these difficulties. This research uses quantitative descriptive methods. The research subjects are 47 undergraduate students actively engaged in writing research papers. The data were collected through a questionnaire capturing students’ responses to assess their difficulties in the research paper writing process. The survey investigated the key areas where students struggle in writing about research, including procedures, difficulties with selecting a research topic, choosing an appropriate methodology, and interpreting and discussing data. The result of this research shows that undergraduate students experience difficulty with writing research papers, particularly in picking a feasible topic and creating a good title, identifying and defining an appropriate problem, and effectively elaborating on findings and their implications. The study identified potential areas for improvement in research training and support services to address the students’ difficulties. The finding highlights the need for targeted interventions, such as seminars on research methodology and writing skills, as well as better time management tactics, to improve the research writing experience.