The aim of this study was to demonstrate how postgraduate students cope with the stress induced
while adjusting to the various proposal and research report writing phases they are involved in.
It is further purported that difficulties in adjusting to the various proposal and research report
writing phases and lack of support lead to students experiencing stress. The population consisted
of 815 students enrolled for masters and doctoral programmes at Unisa for the 2012 academic year.
This study employed the Stress and Support Questionnaire for University Students to determine the
stress postgraduate students encountered while adjusting to the proposal and research report
writing phases they were in. Furthermore, this questionnaire was also used to understand how these
students use support as a coping mechanism. The various research hypotheses were tested using an
explanatory mixed method research design. The population consisted of 815 students enrolled for
masters and doctoral programmes at Unisa for the 2012 academic year. Data was analysed using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Strata software and Microsoft Excel. Statistical
analyses included tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests. The results
demonstrated that students experience stress during the adjustment process to the various research
report writing phases. However, masters students showed higher levels of stress while adjusting to
the research report writing phases, compared with doctoral students. Some of the doctoral students
reported that they felt fewer levels of stress, because they were already exposed to postgraduate
studies and were aware of what is expected. Furthermore, students who reported feeling stress to a
large extent indicated the reasons to be a lack of support from supervisors, delayed and
insufficient feedback, lack of financial support,
lack of social support, procrastination, and balancing work and studies. Some of the students
iv
indicated that they do not feel any stress at all because they have surrounded themselves with
people who have travelled the path, and their environment is conducive to study. Support from
colleagues at work, supervisors, friends and family have also shown to help students adjust to the
research report writing phases of their programmes. Although some of the students indicated that
they do not experience stress, it is imperative that interventions be designed for those students
who do experience challenges when adjusting to the research report writing phases. / Psychology / MA (Psychology)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/13474 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Silinda, Fortunate Tintswalo |
| Contributors | Joubert, J. P. R. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online extent (xvi, 175 leaves) |
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