Knowledge sharing practices among doctoral students in JAIST to enhance research skills

Abstract

This study reports an exploratory investigation of knowledge sharing (KS) practices of doctoral students in Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) to enhance research skills. It examines KS concepts, reasons for sharing knowledge, types of knowledge that the doctoral students share with each other, level of agreements on how KS supports the research process and what factors should be considered while sharing knowledge among others. It also explores the barriers of KS among JAIST doctoral students, the suggestions how those KS barriers can be overcome and some recommendations by which research activities can be promoted through sharing knowledge. This study includes both qualitative and quantitative approaches. We conducted face-to-face interviews of 29 doctoral students of three graduate schools of JAIST. The findings confirm that the doctoral students held highly positive perceptions about sharing knowledge with each other, and most of them believe that KS can enhance and promote research skills. Therefore, the findings would be beneficial for all students of three graduate schools of JAIST for further enhancement and encouragement of KS among them.

https://doi.org/10.34105/j.kmel.2013.05.012