HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES IN RESEARCH CAPABILITY BUILDING: ACADEMIC, TECHNICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS AMONG YOUNG SCHOLARS IN INDIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/344vr760Keywords:
Research barriers, research engagement, young scholars, academic challenges, technical barriers, psychological barriersAbstract
Research engagement among young scholars is vital for innovation, knowledge creation, and human capital development. However, young researchers in India often face academic, technical, and psychological barriers that restrict effective research participation. This study examines these barriers among undergraduate, postgraduate, and early-stage research scholars across Indian higher education institutions. A mixed-method design was adopted, combining quantitative analysis of a structured Likert-scale questionnaire with qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Data were collected from a simulated sample of 300 respondents. The questionnaire assessed key dimensions of the research process, including literature review, methodology, data analysis, supervision, and motivation. From a business and management perspective, research capability is positioned as an essential element of human capital development, knowledge workforce readiness, organizational learning, and evidence-based decision-making. Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal consistency across constructs. Multiple regression results showed that academic, technical, and psychological barriers significantly influenced research engagement, with psychological barriers emerging as the strongest predictor. Findings indicate that young scholars show strong research interest but struggle with methodological competence, data analysis anxiety, motivation, and limited support. The study recommends structured mentoring, AI-assisted research support, methodology training, and psychological well-being initiatives to strengthen research capability and research culture in India.
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