Woods, Bridie Teresa;
(2024)
Taking time out of a study programme: an investigation of student interruptions of study using Archer’s critical realist theory of structure and agency.
Doctoral thesis (Ed.D), UCL (University College London).
Preview |
Text
Bridie Woods EdD Thesis .pdf - Accepted Version Download (904kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This thesis is concerned with staff and student experiences of the interruption process, when students take time out of their study programme because of personal reasons, and draws on my experience as a welfare officer supporting students through the process. Research studies on student retention express concerns regarding the number of students who do not return following an interruption of study, but studies on the interruption process itself are extremely scarce. The theoretical framework chosen was Margaret Archer’s theory of Structure and Agency, a critical realist approach to exploring how individuals use their reflexive processes and agency when engaging with structures. The qualitative study was based on semi structured interviews held with eight members of staff and six students. The analysis showed that although in principle the interruption of study is a structural enablement, it can nevertheless be a challenging experience. Some students were unaware of support services, and both staff and students faced challenges of communication when interacting with an uncoordinated system of support structures. The findings also showed how students’ mental and emotional health concerns impacted upon their ability to focus and manage the interruption process. The study shows areas of good practice and also areas that would benefit from improvement, including a better coordination of support services and improved levels of support and information for students when undertaking an interruption of study. Areas of support should cover all stages of the interruption, including when students return to their study programme. Notwithstanding its limitations, this study makes an important contribution to the literature on student retention, providing an understanding of the challenges facing staff and students when managing the interruption process. Further areas for research may include the experiences of international students, and of administrators when managing the interruption process.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ed.D |
| Title: | Taking time out of a study programme: an investigation of student interruptions of study using Archer’s critical realist theory of structure and agency |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author 2024. Original content in this thesis is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Any third-party copyright material present remains the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed under its existing terms. Access may initially be restricted at the author’s request. |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10186017 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
