Experiences of University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study

Yıl 2024, , 22 - 42, 30.04.2024

Erinç Erbildim , Buse Keskindağ

https://doi.org/10.52528/genclikarastirmalari.1323998

Öz

Aim: Using a qualitative method, this study aimed to understand the experiences of university students and determine their needs while they continued online education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Method: By using phenomenological aapproach, one-to-one interviews were conducted with university students. A total of 15 people participated in the study using the purposive sampling strategy. Reflexive thematic analysis technique was used by using the inductive approach together with the critical realist ontological perspective to complete the analysis.
Main Results: As a result of the analysis, a total of five themes were developed, these are, 1) Consequences of restricted social life, 2) Challenges of online education and it’s effect on academic performance, 3) Psychological symptoms experienced during the pandemic, 4) Attitudes towards the future reshaped after the pandemic, and 5) Frequently used coping strategies to manage the difficulties. Each theme was supported by using participants’ quotations.
Recommendations for Research and Practice: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students' daily lives, academic performance and psychological states were negatively influenced when they received online education. As a result, it is clear that students need psychosocial support. Academic institutions may adopt some strategies to reduce the social and psychological difficulties of students, after gradually transitioning form hybrid education to face-to-face education. In order to increase the well-being of students, institutions can provide opportunities where students will feel comfortable to be socially included. It is recommended that academic institutions may provide psychosocial support through organizing activities that can contribute positively to the students’ well-being.eing.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, University Students, Qualitative Reseach

Covid-19 Pandemi Sürecinde Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Deneyimleri: Fenomenolojik Bir Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, nitel yöntem kullanarak Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’ndeki bir üniversitede öğrencilerin COVID-19 pandemi süresince uzaktan eğitime devam ettikleri süredeki deneyimlerini anlamayı ve bu süreçteki gereksinimlerini belirlemeyi amaçlamıştır.
Yöntem: Bu çalışma katılımcılarla birebir görüşme tekniği kullanılarak fenomenolojik desenden yararlanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Amaçlı örneklem stratejisi kullanılarak çalışmaya toplamda 15 kişi katılmıştır. Elde edilen verikümesinin analizi için, kritik realist ontolojik bakış açısı ile birlikte tümevarımsal yaklaşım kullanılarak refleksif tematik analiz tekniği kullanılmıştır.
Temel Sonuçlar: Analiz sonucu toplamda beş tema geliştirilmiştir. Bunlar sırasıyla: 1) Kısıtlanmış sosyal hayatın sonuçları, 2) Çevrim içi eğitimin beraberinde getirdiği zorlukların akademik performansa etkisi, 3) Pandemi süresince deneyimlenen psikolojik belirtiler, 4) Pandemi sonrası yeniden şekillenen gelecek ile ilgili tutumlar ve 5) Zorluklara karşı sıklıkla kullanılan baş etme stratejileri’dir. Her tema, katılımcıların paylaştığı örnek ifadeler kullanılarak desteklenmiştir.
Araştırma ve Uygulama için Öneriler: Öğrencilerin COVID-19 pandemisi nedeniyle çevrim içi eğitim aldıkları dönemde gündelik yaşamlarını ve psikolojilerini olumsuz etkileyen faktörler ve bunların akademik performanslarına etkisi birlikte değerlendirildiğinde, psikososyal anlamda bu öğrencilerin desteklenmesi gerektiği ortaya çıkmıştır. Özellikle çevrim içi ve yüzyüze eğitimin birarada verildiği karma eğitim sisteminden kademeli olarak yüzyüze eğitim sistemine geçilmesiyle akademik kurumlara öğrencilerin sosyal ve psikolojik sorunlarını azaltmaya yönelik birtakım öneriler sunulabilir. Öğrencilerin iyilik hallerini artırmaya yönelik olarak kurumlar öğrencilere kendilerini daha rahat hissedecekleri sosyal ortamlar sağlayabilir, ihtiyaç duyduklarında erişebilecekleri psikososyal destek sunabilir ve gelişimlerini destekleyici etkinlik ve faaliyetler planlayabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, Üniversite Öğrencileri, Nitel Çalışma

Kaynakça

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