The EFL Lecturers’ Voices: Strategies and Concerns in Writing the Ba Thesis

Authors

  • Teuku Zulfikar Department of English Language Education, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, Indonesia
  • Emawati Department of Islamic Education, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Aceh, Indonesia
  • Amiruddin Department of English Language Education, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, Indonesia
  • Anis Sundusiyah Project Associate at the Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) of the University of Pittsburgh, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30762/jeels.v10i2.1585

Keywords:

interpersonal communication, research methodologies, time-management, thesis supervisor, thesis writing

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to examine the perspectives of department chairmen and lecturers who teach Research Methods in English Language Teaching (ELT) with regards to strategies employed in thesis writing. We conducted in-depth interviews to collect data. Four English Education department chairs were interviewed and 24 lecturers teaching Research Methodology in ELT via FGDs. Using coding techniques, the data from interviews and FGDs were divided into two main themes: academic and non-academic variables to successful thesis writing. Academic variables include the selection of research problems, analysis of prior relevant themes, formulation of research questions, and comprehension of writing styles. In addition, participants acknowledged that non-academic variables play a vital role in the successful writing of a thesis. The participants highlighted time management and interpersonal relationships as non-academic issues.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anderson, J & Poole M. (2002). Assignment and thesis writing (4th Ed). Brisbane, New York, Chichester, Weinheim: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Berlach, R. G. (2010). Supervising a research thesis. A practical guide. Fermantle: The University of Notre Dame Press

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th Ed).. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th Ed.). Abington: Routledge.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th Ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication Inc.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approach (4th Ed). Los Angeles: SAGE

Cropley, A. J. (2002). Qualitative research methods: A practice oriented introduction for students of psychology and education. Riga, Latvia: Zinātne.

Du, Q., & Liu, Y. (2021). Foregrounding learner voice: Chinese undergraduate students’ understanding of paraphrasing and source use conventions for English research paper writing. Language Teaching Research, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211027032

Flick, U. (2018) The sage handbook of qualitative data collection. Los Angele, London: Sage Reference

Glesne C. (2014). Becoming qualitative researchers: an introduction (5th Ed.). Boston: Pearson

Griffee, T. D. (2012). An introduction to second language research methods: Design and data. Berkeley: TESL-EJ Publications

Henttonen A, Westerbotn M, Scheja M, Fossum B, Teräs M (2023). Exploring writing a bachelor’s thesis as a tool for students’ learning in nursing: A qualitative interview study from an activity theoretical perspective. Nordic Journal of Nursing Research. 43(2). doi:10.1177/20571585231167656

Hesse, A., Glenna, L., Hinrichs, C., Chiles, R., & Sachs, C. (2019). Qualitative Research Ethics in the Big Data Era. American Behavioral Scientist, 63(5), 560-583. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218805806

Hsiung, P.-C. (2018). Learning Critical Qualitative Research: Introduction to the Special Issue. International Review of Qualitative Research, 11(4), 365-374. https://doi.org/10.1525/irqr.2018.11.4.365

Hunt, I., Ryan, A., hAodha, M. Ó., & Rezaei-Zadeh, M. (2022). Industry requirements, thesis-writing and the emergence of flexible educational programmes: Reflections on the university learner experience. Industry and Higher Education, 36(3), 319-333. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222211032908

Kendal, S. (2015). How to Write a Research Paper (1st Ed.). Bookboon.com

Kuchinke, K. P. (2023). Grounding and Deepening Academic Writing in Human Resource Development: The Role of Selecting and Representing the Supporting Literature. Human Resource Development Review, 22(3), 414-427. https://doi.org/10.1177/15344843231183194

Lapan, S. D., Quartaroli, M. T., & Riemer, F. J. (Eds.). (2012). Qualitative research: An introduction to methods and designs. Jossey-Bass/Wiley.

Leavy, P. (2014). The Oxford handbook of qualitative research (edited). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lee, T. S. O., & Lin, L. H. F. (2022). Motivational strategies adopted in postgraduate English academic writing courses: Perspectives of doctoral students. SAGE Open, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221138259

Lipson, C. (2005). How to write a ba thesis: a practical guide from your first idea to your finished paper. Chicago & London: Chicago University Press.

Lodico, M. G., Spaulding, D. T., & Voegtle, K. H. (2006). Methods in educational research: From theory to practice. Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint: San Francisco.

Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social science (9th Ed.). Global Edition. Social Sciences. Pearson Education Limited: Harlow.

Mackey, A & Gass M S 2005. Second language research methodology and design. Mahwah and New Jersey: LEA Publishers.

Mckay S. L. (2006). Researching second language classroom. Mahwah, New Jersey, London: LEA Publication.

Mirrhosseini, S. A. (2020). Doing Qualitative Research in Language Education (1st Ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

Murray, R. (2011). How to write a thesis. 3rd edition. New York: Open University Press

Paltridge B & Starfield S. (2007). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: a handbook for supervisor. London & New York: Routledge

Paltridge, B. (1997). Thesis and dissertation writing: preparing ESL students for research. English for Specific Purposes,16, 1, 61-70

Parsaiyan, S. F., & Gholami, H. (2023). Practicing to sing in chorus: Challenges and opportunities of collaborative inquiry-based learning in an Iranian EFL secondary school context. Language TeachingResearch, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688231152037

Partington, G. (2001). Qualitative research interviews: identifying problems in technique. Issues in educational research, 11(2), 32-44.

Randolph, J. (2009). A guide to writing the dissertation literature review. Practical assessment, research, and evaluation, 14(1), 13.

Schillings, M., Roebertsen, H., Savelberg, H., & Dolmans, D. (2023). A review of educational dialogue strategies to improve academic writing skills. Active Learning in Higher Education, 24(2), 95-108. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787418810663

Singh, V., Singh, A. K., & Sonkar, S. K. (2023). Awareness and use of paraphrasing tools by the research scholars of BBAU and CUSB: Asurvey. Alexandria, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/09557490231217716

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of business research, 104, 333-339.

Tarozzi, M. (2013). How does our research question come about? The impact of funding agencies in formulating research questions. The Qualitative Report, 8, 102, 1-11

Taylor, S. J., Bogdan, R., & DeVault, M. L. (2016). Introduction to qualitative research methods. A guidebook and resource (4th Ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Teitelbaum, H. (1994). How to write a thesis. Lawrenceville: Thomson.

Terrel, S. (2016). Writing a proposal for your dissertation: Guidelines and examples. New York: The Guilford Press, a Division of Guilford Publications, Inc.

Weatherall, R. (2019). Writing the doctoral thesis differently. Management Learning, 50(1), 100-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507618799867

Wilkey, G. G. (2013). Research Into Characteristics of Effective High School Principals: A Case Study Of Leadership Practices Used In The High School Setting. Unpublished dissertation. Utah State University. Logan, USA.

Younas, A., Durante, A., & Fàbregues, S. (2023). Understanding the Nature of and Identifying and Formulating “Research Problems” in Mixed Methods Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 15586898231191441.

Vásquez-Colina, M. D., Shatara, L., & Meredith, T. L. (2022). A Mixed-Method Research Study of Dual Enrolled Students’ Experiences in a Research Course: Research Capital Development? Journal of Advanced Academics, 33(1), 104-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1932202X211056551

Zarestky, J. (2023). Navigating Multiple Approaches to Qualitative Research in HRD. Human Resource Development Review, 22(1), 126-138. https://doi.org/10.1177/15344843221142106

Zulfikar, T. (2014). Researching our own backyard: inquiries into an Ethnography study: Ethnography and Education, 9, 33, 373-386.

Zulfikar, T. (2019). ESL research: Designs and thesis writing. Banda Aceh, the Padebook.

Downloads

Published

2023-12-07

How to Cite

Zulfikar, T. ., Emawati, Amiruddin, & Sundusiyah, A. (2023). The EFL Lecturers’ Voices: Strategies and Concerns in Writing the Ba Thesis. JEELS (Journal of English Education and Linguistics Studies), 10(2), 499–518. https://doi.org/10.30762/jeels.v10i2.1585