scholarly journals Motivations for Going to University: A Qualitative Study and Class Project

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
Class Project ◽  
Guidance Counselling ◽  
Extrinsic Motivators ◽  
School Guidance ◽  
Student Motivations ◽  
Intrinsic Motivators

We explored student motivations for attending university, including how motivations may change over the course of one’s postsecondary career, by conducting semi-structured interviews with 8 upper-year undergraduates. Participants were also asked to reflect back on their own experiences and provide advice for new university students. We conducted a grounded theory analysis to identify common themes running across the 8 interviews. What emerged was a pattern of transition from a predominance of external/extrinsic motivators at the beginning of one’s university career, into increasingly internal/intrinsic motivators as students discovered their passions and interests. Two unexpected external/extrinsic themes to emerge included: ‘Unhelpful high-school guidance-counselling’ and a ‘Motivation to disprove people who underestimate you’. The strongest internal/intrinsic motivation was the ‘Desire to help others’. Students can apply these findings to their own lives and universities can gain a better understanding of the supports that are needed to retain students through to graduation.

scholarly journals Dealing with Moms and Dads: Family Dilemmas Encountered by Youth Program Leaders

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aisha Griffith ◽  
Reed W. Larson
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Youth Programs ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Program Leaders ◽  
Youth Program ◽  
Effective Leaders ◽  
Quality Programs

The leaders of youth programs encounter a range of challenging situations that involve youth’s parents or families. This qualitative study obtained data on the variety and nature of these family-related “dilemmas of practice.” Longitudinal interviews with leaders of 10 high quality programs for high-school-aged youth yielded narrative information on a sample of 32 family dilemmas that they had encountered. Grounded theory analysis identified four categories of family dilemmas: 1) problems at home that become a concern to the leader, 2) parents’ expectations are incongruent with program norms or functioning, 3) parents do not support youth’s participation in the program or an aspect of the program, and 4) communicating with parents on sensitive matters. Each of these categories of dilemmas entailed distinct considerations and underlying issues that effective leaders need to be able to understand.

scholarly journals Factors behind healthy snack consumption at school among high-school students: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Bastami ◽  
Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh ◽  
Firoozeh Mostafavi
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
School Environment ◽  
School Administrators ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Fast Foods ◽  
Snack Consumption ◽  
Negative Feelings

Abstract Background The prevalence of consuming fast foods and non-nutritious snacks is progressively increasing among adolescents. This study aimed to explore factors behind snack consumption at school among Iranian high-school students. Methods This descriptive qualitative study was conducted in 2017 in four boys’ and four girls’ high-schools located in Isfahan, Khorramabad, and Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through 42 in-depth semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with male and female students, their parents, and their school teachers and administrators. The conventional content analysis approach was used for data analysis. Trustworthiness was applied to the study through prolonged engagement, maximum variation sampling, and member checking techniques. Results Factors behind students’ snack consumption came into two main groups, namely influential behaviors, and influential emotions and perceptions. Influential behaviors included the behaviors of students, their family members, peers, school administrators, and snack sellers. Moreover, influential emotions and perceptions included positive and negative feelings towards healthy snacks, fear over the consequences of unhealthy snacks, and perceived positive outcomes of healthy snacks. Conclusions Students’ snack consumption at school is affected not only by their own behaviors, emotions, and perceptions, but also by significant others’ behaviors and environmental factors. School administrators need to make environmental modifications to turn school environment into a pleasant place for healthy snack consumption and make healthy snack consumption a pleasurable experience for students.

scholarly journals A passionate way of being: a qualitative study revealing the passion spiral

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna M. Halonen ◽  
Tim Lomas
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Research Methodology ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Worth Living ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Eudaimonic Happiness

Being engaged in an activity one is passionate about has been tied to feeling life is worth living for. Existing research in passion has explored this phenomenon purely using quantitative research methodology, and by tying an individual’s passion to a specific activity. In this study, passion was explored in semi-structured interviews with 12 participants. The qualitative grounded theory analysis revealed a passionate way of being, with passion being located in the individual rather than in a specific activity. A new phenomenon to positive psychology, a passionate way of being is about having a purpose, creating positive impact, and pursuing variety. These key elements, amongst others, created a reinforcing, self-sustaining spiral, which offered a route to hedonic and eudaimonic happiness, generally serving to enhance life (though it could also detract from life if it became overpowering).

scholarly journals Probing the Antecedents of Iranian EFL Teachers’ Motivation and Demotivation

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 502-508
Author(s):  
Afsaneh Ghanizadeh ◽  
Javad Erfanian
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Role Models ◽  
The Other ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Officials ◽  
Teaching Knowledge ◽  
Time Restrictions ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Do So

Teachers play the focal roles in the lives and learning of the students in their classrooms. They indeed serve many roles including, teaching knowledge to students, mentoring and nurturing students, becoming role models, and creating a friendly and facilitative learning environment. These encompassing roles underscore teachers’ motivational disposition. The present article reports on a qualitative study exploring Iranian EFL teachers’ motivating and demotivating factors. To do so, semi-structured interviews with 9 high school EFL teachers were conducted. The analysis of the interview protocols yielded a number of motivating and demotivating factors. These factors were categorized under three antecedents for motivation and three for demotivation. It was concluded that: a) most of the teachers were dissatisfied with students’ inattention and inapt conduct of school officials or authorities; b) some were dissatisfied with payment and time restrictions; c) in the other hand, most of them were satisfied with students’ enthusiasm; and d) some of them were satisfied with parents’ appreciation.

scholarly journals Teachers Voices: A Qualitative Study on Burnout in the Portuguese Educational System

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 392
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Mota ◽  
João Lopes ◽  
Célia Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
Educational System ◽  
Education System ◽  
The Other ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
The Impact

Teaching has been identified as an environment of extreme physical, mental, and cognitive demand for teachers and is one of the careers where burnout levels are the highest. This qualitative study aims to (i) understand the importance of personal, organizational, and classroom dimensions concerning the Portuguese education system, (ii) and how these dimensions contribute to burnout in Portuguese teachers from different teaching levels. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-six primary and high school teachers. Results offer insights on the impact that different variables have on teachers’ burnout. The content analysis suggests that organization is the most relevant dimension contributing to teachers’ burnout. On the other hand, the classroom category appears to be the most challenging context for teachers to manage. The results highlight the need to consider the dynamics and interdependency between personal, organizational, and classroom dimensions in the development and prevalence of burnout.

Topik-Topik Komunikasi Dakwah Dalam Mesej Akidah Kepada Masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor

Sains Insani ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Zulkefli Aini ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Don ◽  
Ahmad Irdha Mokhtar ◽  
Nur Uswah Ahmad Fauzi
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Verbal Feedback ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Beliefs And Practice ◽  
Islamic Faith ◽  
Selection Of

One of the factors that can affect a person's behavior is a communication message. In the context of the da`wah, preachers who involved actively in da`wah communication with the Orang Asli should be able to ensure that the message conveyed can be understood by the target group. In addition, the selection of the correct messages of da`wah based on the foremost priority simplify the process of sharing information between the preachers and the Orang Asli. Accordingly, this article aims to identify specific topics of Islamic faith (akidah) submitted by the Orang Asli in the process of da`wah communication and to identify verbal feedback given by the preachers to the Orang Asli of the topics. This qualitative study using case study design and data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interviews involving nine preachers were active in da`wah activity to the Orang Asli community in Selangor. Data were analyzed thematically according to the specified objectives. The study found that the topics frequently raised by the Orang Asli is concerned about belief in Allah, belief in Malaikat, and belief in Qada' and Qadar. The topics may be found within the framework of worldview in their beliefs and practice of ancient traditions. Therefore, the preachers gave verbal feedback on these topics is based on a clear and precise sample corresponding to the level of their thinking. The emphasis on these topics is very important to strengthen and purify the faith of the community.Keywords: Communication; Message; Preacher; Indigenous community Abstrak: Elemen mesej dalam komunikasi merupakan salah satu faktor yang dapat memberi kesan terhadap perubahan tingkah laku seseorang. Dalam konteks dakwah, pendakwah yang terlibat dalam proses komunikasi dakwah dengan Orang Asli seharusnya berkebolehan memastikan kandungan mesej yang disampaikan boleh difahami oleh sasaran dakwahnya. Di samping itu, pemilihan mesej dakwah yang betul mengikut keutamaan memudahkan proses perkongsian maklumat antara pendakwah dengan Orang Asli. Sehubungan dengan itu, artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti topik-topik tertentu dalam mesej akidah yang dikemukakan oleh masyarakat Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dan mengenalpasti maklum balas lisan yang diberikan oleh pendakwah kepada Orang Asli terhadap topik tersebut. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan reka bentuk kajian kes dengan pengumpulan data melalui temu bual separa struktur. Temu bual melibatkan sembilan orang pendakwah yang aktif dalam aktiviti dakwah masyarakat Orang Asli di Selangor. Data kajian dianalisis secara tematik mengikut objektif yang ditentukan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa topik-topik yang sering dikemukan oleh Orang Asli kepada pendakwah dalam penyampaian mesej akidah ialah berkenaan tentang keimanan kepada Allah SWT, keimanan kepada malaikat, dan keimanan kepada qada’ dan qadar. Topik-topik berkenaan didapati berada dalam kerangka worldview kepercayaan dan amalan tradisi mereka. Sehubungan dengan itu, pendakwah memberikan maklum balas lisan terhadap topik-topik tersebut adalah berdasarkan keterangan yang jelas dan contoh yang tepat bersesuaian dengan tahap pemikiran mereka. Penekanan terhadap topik-topik tersebut merupakan perkara yang penting dalam rangka mengukuhkan dan memurnikan akidah masyarakat Orang Asli.Kata kunci: Komunikasi; Mesej; Pendakwah; Komuniti Orang Asli

SUSTAINING FAMILY ROUTINES AFTER TRANSITIONING INTO PARENTHOOD: COUPLES’ PERCEPTIONS OF ASSISTING FACTORS

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-17
Author(s):  
Christine De Goede ◽  
Abraham P Greeff
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Specific Problem ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Theory Analysis ◽  
Family Routines ◽  
Temporal Complexity ◽  
Context Specific

The aim of this qualitative study was to explore what assists couples in sustaining family routines after the transition to parenthood. Participants were recruited from two day-care centres in Cape Town, South Africa. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 couples, mostly from low-income households, who had gone through this transition between one and four years previously. Grounded theory analysis revealed one major theme, Factors that decrease task and temporal complexity, with seven subthemes: Support from the wider family network; Couple cooperation and tag-teaming; Planning and pre-empting future problems; Adhering to schedules; Facilitative characteristics and skills of individual family members; Parents’ sense of commitment and responsibility towards family members; and idiosyncratic accommodations. Results underscore the need for professionals to help parents gain support from relatives; strengthen partner teamwork; foster schedule consistency; improve skills such as planning; foster their caretaker self-concepts; and facilitate context-specific problem-solving.

Gender Non-traditional High School Study: Reasons for Choice and Evaluation of Experience

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-66
Author(s):  
Irena Smetáčková ◽  
Petr Pavlík
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Peer Groups ◽  
Male Students ◽  
School Program ◽  
School Study ◽  
Qualitative Thematic Analysis ◽  
Opposite Sex

Career choices of most pupils at the end of the primary school conform to gender norms. Only a few of them continue to study in a field traditionally considered appropriate for the opposite sex. The qualitative study presented here maps the reasons for such choices based on a sample of 25 female and 31 male students who study gender-atypical secondary school program for one to three years. The data were collected using a questionnaire with open-ended items and analysed using the qualitative thematic analysis. The results revealed that the reasons for school choices of boys and girls differ to certain extent. Their situation also differs with respect to the support they receive from their close ones and the acceptance by their classmates. The parents of girls disapproved of their choices more often than the parents of boys. Girls were also ridiculed more frequently by their peer groups.

Diversity in teachers’ approaches to movement integration: A qualitative study of lower secondary school teachers’ perceptions of a state school reform involving daily physical activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-447
Author(s):  
Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen ◽  
Sine Agergaard ◽  
Michalis Stylianou ◽  
Jens Troelsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Physical Activity Policy ◽  
Danish School ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Movement Integration

In the context of implementing a physical activity policy as part of a national school reform in Denmark, the purpose of this study was to explore lower secondary teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of the physical activity policy with a focus on movement integration. In total, 14 teachers from four different schools were selected to take part in this qualitative study, which involved semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, go-along observations and informal interviews. A thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and describe patterns of meaning within data. The findings showed substantial diversity among teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of movement integration, and consequently a lack of definitional clarity regarding movement integration and a possible misalignment between policy and practice. Teachers’ perceptions and interpretations of movement integration were influenced by other and more prioritised policies and discourses regarding academic achievement, as well as by intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional factors. The findings also suggested a lack of support and collaboration within the school and provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the autonomy afforded in the Danish school reform.

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