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INTRODUCTION

Policy Brief Series No. 2022-3

ISSN: 2651-6551

All opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this are those of the authors, not necessarily of Benguet State University

Since world-class education entails students and professionals to produce quality research work, understanding the

experiences of Graduate School students in completing their theses or dissertations is needed. Their narratives will

provide a moderate generalization that can generate possible solutions to alleviate student difficulties in conducting

research.

LOW TURN OUT OF BSU GRADUATE STUDENTS,

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

by Gigy G. Banes & Shania S. Lucyao

years for a Doctorate Degree (Graduate School Bulletin,

2001). For most of them, this delay is due to the failure to

complete the thesis or dissertation. This is due to several

challenges related with the advisory committee, institution

and personal constraints (Banes et al., 2020).

This study looked into the context of BSU GS students in

conducting a research. It aimed to explore the students'

research experiences in completing a thesis or dissertation

and to generate recommendations from students and

faculty. The intention is to strengthening graduate school

programs of the University as well as promote of research

mentoring between faculty members and GS students.

Whilst conducting research is proven to contribute to

the development of a particular field of study, the

proficiency requirements in scientific work pose

challenges when pursuing a graduate degree.

In Benguet State University, among the estimated

480 Graduate School enrollees in the second semester of

SY 2019-2020, only 100 students submitted an endorsed

research draft. Among those 100 who submitted, only

around 50 were approved for final defense and binding

(BSU Graduate School Staff, personal communication,

June 3, 2020). Furthermore, within a usual time frame to

complete a graduate degree course, it is observed that

majority of the students exceeded their supposed

residency of five years for a Master's Degree and seven

HIGHLIGHTS

Securing Certificate of Precondition on the Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) facilitated by

the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) also delayed the completion of

their theses, specifically those who conducted Indigenous Knowledge-related research.

The facilitating factors that helped the GS students complete their Graduate Studies on the

given time frame are: varied motivations to complete graduate studies, degree program

curriculum, research competencies, research mentoring, school policies and programs.

The difficulties of Graduate School (GS) students on writing the technical parts of research,

following the institutional form and style coupled with other challenges like time

constraints, financial problems, health concerns, advisee-adviser relationships and

repercussions of the pandemic, affected the completion of their theses or dissertations that

resulted to low turn-out of graduates.

Amidst the numerous difficulties of completing a graduate degree program, completing

their graduate degrees opened new opportunities for them like employment, promotion,

new designations, research, opportunities and networks.

INFORMING POLICY AND PRACTICE

Policy Brief Series No. 2023-9

ISSN: 2651-6551

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METHODOLOGY

FINDINGS

Other Challenges that Affect Conduct of Research

Other challenges encountered by GS students in

completing their research are lack of time, financial

constraints and health concerns. Oftentimes, students

cannot focus in the implementation of their study because

of assumed multiple roles. Their time is distributed at home,

work, social organizations and even performing religious

obligations.

These multiple roles limit the time they can allot in

writing their research. Moreover, some students face

financial constraints most especially to those who

underwent FPIC process facilitated by the NCIP personnel

because students need to feed the gathered research

participants for the consent seeking.

Students who are battling with illnesses and those who

are pregnant also opt to rest or stop their studies.

2 INFORMING POLICY & PRACTICE

Low Turn Out of BSU Graduate Students, What Can Be Done?

The study used descriptive qualitative exploratory

research. The case observed was the experiences of GS

students in completing a thesis or dissertation in relation

to the different challenges affecting it. Narratives and

scripts were utilized to capture the localized and

contextualized experiences of BSU GS students in

conducting research. Interview and focused group

discussion were used to collect data from the key

informants.

Data were triangulated programs coming from

degree earners of both Masters and Doctorate from 2015

to 2021, advisers and panel members and Graduate

School personnel.

Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data

gathered from the key informants.

Figure 1. Number of Research Participants

Figure 2. Summary of Enrolles and Graduates

Writing Thesis or Dissertation

Even if the students were acquainted with research

in their academic subjects, several students still

encounter difficulties in writing their paper. According to

the advisers and the graduate school personnel, writing

the paper itself is the top difficulty of students in writing

a thesis or dissertation.

The initial difficulty that the graduate students

experienced when they enrolled their thesis was the

conceptualization of research topics and or problems.

Another observation of the advisers in relation to

students' proposed research topic is the value laden

within the paper and its contribution to the scientific

community or in general.

DIFFICULTIES IN COMPLETING RESEARCH

A general comment from the advisers is the difficulty of

students to connect themselves to the study which they

decided to explore, considering their current work and to

foresee the significance of the research results. Undecided

on what topic to be researched as well as the significance of

the research can contribute is one reason that delays

students for a semester or more.

Writing the background of the study and conceptual

frameworks, organizing related literatures, analyzing the

results, conclusion and recommendations are the common

difficulties highlighted by the students which was affirmed

by their panel members and advisers. However, among these

research processes, the analysis of data is the most

mentioned reason that delays the completion of their

manuscript.

Technical Formatting

The strict implementation of formatting the manuscripts

affected the student's motivation in writing. Students

expressed their annoyance and dissatisfaction with the firm

implementation of theses format guidelines. According to

some students, they have a greater difficulty of formatting

their paper over the conduct of research given that they are

not technically knowledgeable. Students shared that they

can reach up to several drafts and so they are disappointed.

With the difficulty of complying, students did not continue

their study. Other students were able to manage by seeking

assistance from the GS staff. However, both advisers and

students acknowledge that the policy being implemented

adds to the quality of paper, nonetheless, this should not

discourage the students. Some advisers suggested that the

strict formatting of the paper should be done after the final

defense since the paper should still be changed considering

the panel members could still give inputs.

Figure 3. Facilitating Factors of Finishing Research