A 17 page paper. Most authors agree that the transition from high school to university can be very stressful. The first section of this paper presents a literature review on this topic, including a discussion of the most common adjustment issues these students face. The writer then presents a proposal to study the issue using the phenomenographic research method, a qualitative research approach. The study is based on the transcript of a forum group, using a semi-structured questionnaire (the transcript is not included). The writer provides an analysis of the results, showing the issues that emerged from the interview are the same as have been presented in the literature. The third section of this paper is a self-analysis of listening skills. While the interview was conducted in Australia, the text is applicable in any country. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: MM12_PGnuniau.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
only at a higher level, it is presented much more quickly (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). Typically, there is far more homework (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). Professors dont necessarily remind students of which
work is due nor do they give much, if any time, in class to do homework assignments (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). The student must be totally responsible for his or her
own schedule and getting things done (Philis, 1999; collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). If living away from home, there is no longer a constant and consistent support system (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005).
There are no parents telling students what to do, to prohibit them from staying out to late, to monitor their use of their money (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). The university campus
is an entirely new social scene with different expectations and different rules (Philis, 1999; collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). Students are on their own - making new friendships, making all their own
decisions, trying to fit in (collegeboard.com, Inc., 2005). A study at the University of Melbourne found that 14 percent of first year students feel out of place, only about
half felt they really belonged and about one-third felt they were "really alive" (Stevens, 1995). Many authors have commented that many students simply do not make the adjustment to college
life during their first year (Vivekananda and Shores, 1995; Philis, 1999; Exner, 2003). They just do not settle in (Exner, 2003). Exner (2003) commented: "The process of starting student life
is a significant one, impacting on every sphere of existence. The experience may be positive or negative. Much of it is up to the student" (p. 54). Stevens (1995) made
a similar comment: "affect is consistently related to aspects of young peoples transition to university." Adjustment during this first year greatly influences whether the student will stay in university