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About the challenges in undergraduate research projects: an explorative case study in a Sri Lankan National University
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
2018 (English)In: International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, ISSN 1694-2493, E-ISSN 1694-2116, Vol. 17, no 2, p. 25-44Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Conducting research and writing a thesis about it is regarded as a distinctive pedagogy (learning through inquiry) within higher education which brings new challenges to all parties involved. To complete a thesis, students should select a problem, make a systematic plan, implement the plan and, finally, write a report of the process and findings. Students do have a supervisor to guide and support them, but it is the student who plays the key role in the whole research process. The present study is a qualitative, explorative case study to understand the challenges related to research projects within undergraduate management degree programmes in a Sri Lankan national University. Data have been collected using interviews and focus group discussions in six-degree programmes, with around 40 participants in total. The study focuses on identifying problematic areas and creating a general picture of why students’ research projects are not progressing favourably. Six main challenges were identified: student motivation, student-supervisor relationships, skills and knowledge, students’ workload, the structure of the research project course, and resources and ICT tools. These problematic areas are complex and multidimensional. Therefore, further studies are required to truly understand the complex interrelatedness of these areas.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2018. Vol. 17, no 2, p. 25-44
Keywords [en]
undergraduate research supervision, management education, student supervisor interaction, Sri Lankan higher education, thesis projects
National Category
Information Systems, Social aspects
Research subject
Information Society
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-156821DOI: 10.26803/ijlter.17.2.2OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-156821DiVA, id: diva2:1211182
Available from: 2018-05-30 Created: 2018-05-30 Last updated: 2025-02-17Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. A Framework for Designing Learning Management Systems to Support Undergraduate Thesis Projects: With a Focus on Sri Lankan Universities
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A Framework for Designing Learning Management Systems to Support Undergraduate Thesis Projects: With a Focus on Sri Lankan Universities
2022 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

In Sri Lankan public universities about 41000 undergraduate projects are conducted every year, and on average, the total man-hours spent on the thesis projects is about 1.2 million. Although the universities widely use information technology to support teaching and learning, a specific system supporting undergraduate thesis projects is lacking and literature documents many problems related to these projects. Hence, the present research endeavour was commenced in a Sri Lankan university to develop a framework to guide the design process of a Learning Management System (LMS) that can be used to address those problems and support Undergraduate Thesis Projects (UTP). The following three research questions guided the study: 1) What are the problems of UTP? 2) Which learning theories and pedagogical concepts should be considered when designing an LMS to support the UTP? 3) What are the requirements and components of an LMS which would support the UTP? The Soft Design Science Research Methodology was applied to answer three research questions, and the main findings are as follows: 1) Six main problems areas were identified based on a specific case, 2) These problems were related to unsatisfied requirements of student student-supervisor interaction, scaffolding, and self-regulation processes 3) These requirements further analysed using related learning theories and specific problems were condensed into a general problem.  The general problem is the lack of a learning environment that supports the theoretical foundation (pedagogical implications) and practical facilitation (Information and Communication Technology tools), which could support the student-supervisor interaction, scaffolding, and self-regulation processes, 4) The general problem was analysed, comparing the theoretical foundations and pedagogical implications and a framework was suggested as a general solution for designing an LMS with four basic modules. These modules include software subcomponents that can be used to enhance student-supervisor interaction, peer collaboration, students’ self-regulation skills, and students’ motivation, 5) The general solution was evaluated, and it was shown that supervisors accepted the proposed components as parts of an LMS that supports UTP. The findings show that this framework offers features and components that enhance the quality and importance of thesis projects. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences; Stockholm University, 2022. p. 93
Series
Report Series / Department of Computer & Systems Sciences, ISSN 1101-8526 ; 22-005
Keywords
Thesis projects, Self-regulation learning, Scaffolding, Zone of Proximal Development, Constructivist learning theories, Thesis project management systems
National Category
Computer Sciences Information Systems
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-210121 (URN)978-91-8014-042-3 (ISBN)978-91-8014-043-0 (ISBN)
Public defence
2022-11-21, Lilla hörsalen, NOD-huset, Borgarfjordsgatan 12, Kista, 14:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2022-10-27 Created: 2022-10-10 Last updated: 2022-10-20Bibliographically approved

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Colombage, Ranil PeirisMännikkö Barbutiu, SirkkuHansson, Henrik

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