EXPERIENCING THESIS COMPLETION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF TIMELY GRADUATES

Tri Novafitasari, M.Tolkhah Adityas

Abstract


Research thesis is a written report that presents the results of original research conducted by a graduate student or researcher. It is typically required as part of a graduate degree program and is intended to demonstrate the student's mastery of a specific subject area and their ability to conduct independent research. Writing a thesis is a crucial step towards earning an academic degree. Furthermore, completing a Bachelor's degree within a specific time frame is a significant achievement that benefits the student, the hosting university, and the overall economy. Timely graduates requires that a student complete all the requirements of their degree which is research thesis, within 4 years of study or less.

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology study was to examine the experiences and insight of timely graduates. Research questions focused on the lived experience of timely thesis completion, strategies for others and common challenges of timely graduated students. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 6 students who complete their thesis timely and graduated on-time at English Language Education Study Program of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan with the cohort of 2019. To be eligible for the study, participants had to have complete their thesis on time and completed their undergraduate degree in 4 years or less and graduated in 2023. Data collection included formal response questions and interviews. All data were analyzed through phenomenological reduction of bracketing, horizonalization, clustering into themes, textural descriptions, structural descriptions, and textural-structural synthesis.

This study revealed themes of (a) motivation and psychological well-being, (b) support systems, (c) planning and process management, and (d) academic challenges. While, there are eight emerged sub-themes relating how students experience of thesis completion and graduated timely: (a) internal motivation, (b) psychological stress and personal issue, (c) external support, (d) importance of support systems, (e) supervisor availability and supports, (f) structured planning and management, (g) consistency and adaptability, and (h) challenges in data collection and theory.


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12928/iucee2024.v3i2.14681

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