IMPLICIT PROBLEMS IN GRADUATE THESES: AN EXAMINATION OF THE CAUSES OF STAGNATION IN MASTER’S THESIS

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the reasons behind the stagnations experienced by students during their master's thesis processes. Recognizing that graduate theses are not solely a product of individual effort but are also shaped by institutional, academic, and psychosocial factors, this study uncovers implicit problems in the thesis process through thematic analysis. The importance of the study lies in the difficulties experienced by students during the master's process and the critical role this process plays in graduation, academic career progression, and professional development. Using an interpretive phenomenological approach, which is one of the qualitative research methods, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students pursuing a master's degree in the field of Curriculum and Instruction. The data obtained were analyzed through content analysis, and the reasons for thesis stagnation were categorized under five themes: “personal reasons,” “scientific research competencies,” “thesis topic,” “advisor,” and “unexpected circumstances.” The results revealed that the most common problems students faced were time management difficulties due to excessive workload, perfectionism, marriage, lack of knowledge related to scientific research, insufficient knowledge of the thesis topic, and delayed feedback from advisors. Based on these findings, the study emphasizes that both advisors and institutions must take responsibility to ensure that the thesis process becomes more transparent, supportive, and sustainable.

Keywords

• graduate education
• stagnation in thesis
• student opinions
• phenemology

LİSANSÜSTÜ TEZLERDE ÖRTÜLÜ SORUNLAR: YÜKSEK LİSANS TEZ DURAKSAMALARININ NEDENLERİ ÜZERİNE BİR İNCELEME

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, öğrencilerin yüksek lisans tez süreçlerinde yaşadıkları duraksamanın nedenlerini incelemektir. Yüksek lisans tezlerinin yalnızca bireysel çabanın ürünü olmadığını, aynı zamanda kurumsal, akademik ve psikososyal faktörlerin de etkisiyle şekillendiğini kabul eden bu çalışma, tematik analiz yoluyla tez sürecindeki örtük sorunları ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmanın önemi, öğrencilerin yüksek lisans sürecinde yaşadıkları zorluklar ve bu sürecin mezuniyet, akademik kariyer gelişimi ve mesleki gelişimde oynadığı kritik rolde yatmaktadır. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan yorumlayıcı fenomenolojik yaklaşım kullanılarak, Eğitim Programları ve Öğretim alanında yüksek lisans yapan öğrencilerle yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizi ile incelenmiş ve tezlerin durma nedenleri beş tema altında sınıflandırılmıştır: “kişisel nedenler”, “bilimsel araştırma yeterlilikleri”, “tez konusu”, ‘danışman’ ve “beklenmedik durumlar”. Sonuçlar, öğrencilerin karşılaştığı en yaygın sorunların aşırı iş yükü nedeniyle zaman yönetimi zorlukları, mükemmeliyetçilik, evlilik, bilimsel araştırma ile ilgili bilgi eksikliği, tez konusu hakkında yetersiz bilgi ve danışmanlardan gelen geri bildirimin gecikmesi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu bulgulara dayanarak, çalışma, tez sürecinin daha şeffaf, destekleyici ve sürdürülebilir hale gelmesini sağlamak için hem danışmanların hem de kurumların sorumluluk alması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• lisansüstü eğitim
• tez duraksaması
• öğrenci görüşleri
• fenomenoloji

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