Hindrances in Master Thesis Projects: An Exploratory Study at the Department of English - University of Tlemcen
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Published:
Dec 10, 2025
Keywords:
Master Thesis Projects, Students, Hindrances, Department of English, University of Tlemcen
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Abstract
While research is an indispensable part of university student learning, little attention has been given to why researchers, including Master students’ thesis projects are not progressing favourably. The present study endeavours to find out the challenges students face when conducting thesis projects for the fulfillment of their Master Degree in the Department of English of the University of Tlemcen. Data were collected using group discussions with five students. The results show that there are five problematic areas as regards undergraduate thesis projects challenges. These are student motivation; student-supervisor relationships, skills and knowledge; student’s workload; and resources and ICT tools. Seeing that these areas are multifaceted, further research should focus on the complexity of these issues to give a general picture on why students have experienced those problematic areas while carrying out their research works.
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How to Cite
BELKHIR, F. Z. (2025). Hindrances in Master Thesis Projects: An Exploratory Study at the Department of English - University of Tlemcen. ALTRALANG Journal, 7(2), 488-496. https://doi.org/10.52919/altralang.v7i2.610
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LICENSE: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license
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References
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• Oxford Encyclopaedic English Dictionary. (1996). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Perera, M. A. N. R. (2014). Problems faced by undergraduates in the learning environment: some evidences from a Sri Lanka university. Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 3(1), 77–100. http://doi.org/10.4038/sljass.v3i1.7129
• Pintrich, P. R. (2003). A Motivational Science Perspective on the Role of Student Motivation in Learning and Teaching Contexts. Journal of Educational Psychology, 95(4), 667–686. http://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.95.4.667
• Scott, J. C. (2006). The Mission of the University: Medieval to Postmodern Transformations. The Journal of Higher Education, 77(1), 1–39. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3838730
• Seymour, E., Hunter, A. B., Laursen, S. L., & DeAntoni, T. (2004). Establishing the benefits of research experiences for undergraduates in the sciences: First findings from a three-year study. Science Education, 88(4), 493–534. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sce.10131/abstract
• Taraban, R., & Logue, E. (2012). Academic factors that affect undergraduate research experiences. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2), 499–514. http://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0026851
• Todd, M., Bannister, P., & Clegg, S. (2004). Independent inquiry and the undergraduate dissertation: perceptions and experiences of final‐year social science students. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 29(3), 335–355. http://doi.org/10.1080/0260293042000188285
• Todd, M. J., Smith, K., & Bannister, P. (2006). Supervising a social science undergraduate dissertation: staff experiences and perceptions. Teaching in Higher Education, 11(2), 161–173. http://doi.org/10.1080/13562510500527693
• Valentin, R., & Alexandra, P. I. (2011). University research: administrative aspects and the future of undergraduates. International Journal of Students’ Research, 68–69. http://doi.org/10.5549/IJSR.1.3.68-69
• What is undergraduate research?(,n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lincoln.edu/academics/experiential-learning/center-undergraduate-research/what-undergraduate-research.html
• Zenzele, W. (2010). Factors Affecting Completion of Research Projects by Students: A study of Three Zimbabwe Open University Regions. Zimbabwe International Journal of Open & Distance Learning, 1(1). Retrieved from http://researchdatabase.ac.zw/73/
• Atkins, M., & Brown, G. (1988). Effective teaching in higher education. London: Methuen.
• Ayub, N. (2010). Effect of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation on Academic Performance. Pakistan Business Review, (November), 363–372.
• Barratt, A. (2004). The Dissertation: What Sort of Animal Is It and How Might It Be Better Trained?, British Journal of Theological Education, 14:2, 208-228, DOI: 10.1558/jate.v14i2.208
• Bauer, K. W., & Bennett, J. S. (2003). Alumni Perceptions Used to Assess Undergraduate Research Experience. The Journal of Higher Education, 74(2), 210–230. http://doi.org/10.2307/3648256
• Brew, A., & Jewell, E. (2012). Enhancing quality learning through experiences of research-based learning: implications for academic development. International Journal for Academic Development, 17(1), 47–58. http://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2011.586461
• Brown, A. M., Lewis, S. N., & Bevan, D. R. (2016). Development of a structured undergraduate research experience: Framework and implications. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 44(5), 463–474. http://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.20975
• Burton, S., & Steane, P. (2004). Surviving your thesis. In Physics World (pp. 46–47). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=kbKKbX6Pn0kC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=Surviving+your+thesis&ots=wtLMBubLFm&sig=_Qels9KB963HiKrxxqbzHmbWGno
• Christie, M., & Jurado, R. (2013). Using Communicative Action Theory to Analyse Relationships Between Supervisors and Phd Students in a Technical University in Sweden. Högre Utbildning, 3(3), 187–197. Retrieved from http://pjos.org/ojs/index.php/hus/article/view/5650
• Cook, M. C. F. (1980). The role of the academic supervisor for undergraduate dissertations in science and science-related subjects. Studies in Higher Education, 5(2), 173–185. http://doi.org/10.1080/03075078012331377206
• Connell, R & Manathunga, C. (2012). How to supervise a PhD, 1985-2011. Australian Universities' Review, 54 (1), 5-9. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ968490
• Everaert, P., Opdecam, E., & Maussen, S. (2017). The relationship between motivation, learning approaches, academic performance and time spent. Accounting Education, 26(1), 78–107. http://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2016.1274911
• Gonzalez, C. (2001). Undergraduate Research, Graduate Mentoring, and the University’s Mission. Science, 293(5535), 1624–1626. http://doi.org/10.1126/science.1062714
• Greenbank, P., & Penketh, C. (2009). Student autonomy and reflections on researching and writing the undergraduate dissertation xx. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 33(4), 463–472. http://doi.org/10.1080/03098770903272537
• Hansson, H., Larsson, K., & Wettergren, G. (2009). Open and flexible ICT- support for student thesis production-design concept for the future. In The Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning 2009 (p. 197). Open University Press. Retrieved from http://www.cambridgedistanceeducation.org.uk/CambridgeConferen ceMainPaper2009.pdf#page=197
• Hasan Afzal, Imran Ali, Muhammad Aslam Khan, and Kashif, Hamid. (2010). A Study of University Students’ Motivation and Its Relationship with Their Academic Performance, International Journal of Business and Management, 5 (4), 80–88. Retrieved from https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/view/5691
• Hannigan, B., & Burnard, P. (2001). Preparing and writing an undergraduate dissertation. Nurse Education in Practice, 1(4), 175–180. https://doi.org/10.1054/NEPR.2001.0028
• Kayode, G. (2014). Variables Attributed to Delay in Thesis Completion by Postgraduate Students Corresponding Author : Oluwatayo Gbenga, 5(4), 435–443.
• Kember, D. (2016). Understanding the Nature of Motivation and Motivating Students through Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Cambridge University Press. Singapore: Springer Singapore. http://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-883-0
• l’Anson, R. A., & Smith, K. A. (2004). Undergraduate research projects and dissertations: issues of topic selection, access and data collection amongst tourism management students. The Journal of Hospitality Leisure Sport and Tourism, 3(1), 19–32. https://doi.org/10.3794/johlste.31.54
• Leedy. P. (1989). Practical Research: Planning and Design. London: Collier McMillan.
• Lopatto, D. (2004). Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE): first findings. Cell Biology Education, 3(4), 270–277. http://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.04-07-0045
• McMichael, P. (1993). Starting up as supervisors: The perceptions of newcomers in postgraduate supervision in Australia and Sri Lanka. Studies in Higher Education, 18(1), 15–26. http://doi.org/10.1080/03075079312331382428
• Oxford Encyclopaedic English Dictionary. (1996). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Perera, M. A. N. R. (2014). Problems faced by undergraduates in the learning environment: some evidences from a Sri Lanka university. Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies, 3(1), 77–100. http://doi.org/10.4038/sljass.v3i1.7129
• Pintrich, P. R. (2003). A Motivational Science Perspective on the Role of Student Motivation in Learning and Teaching Contexts. Journal of Educational Psychology, 95(4), 667–686. http://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.95.4.667
• Scott, J. C. (2006). The Mission of the University: Medieval to Postmodern Transformations. The Journal of Higher Education, 77(1), 1–39. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3838730
• Seymour, E., Hunter, A. B., Laursen, S. L., & DeAntoni, T. (2004). Establishing the benefits of research experiences for undergraduates in the sciences: First findings from a three-year study. Science Education, 88(4), 493–534. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sce.10131/abstract
• Taraban, R., & Logue, E. (2012). Academic factors that affect undergraduate research experiences. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2), 499–514. http://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0026851
• Todd, M., Bannister, P., & Clegg, S. (2004). Independent inquiry and the undergraduate dissertation: perceptions and experiences of final‐year social science students. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 29(3), 335–355. http://doi.org/10.1080/0260293042000188285
• Todd, M. J., Smith, K., & Bannister, P. (2006). Supervising a social science undergraduate dissertation: staff experiences and perceptions. Teaching in Higher Education, 11(2), 161–173. http://doi.org/10.1080/13562510500527693
• Valentin, R., & Alexandra, P. I. (2011). University research: administrative aspects and the future of undergraduates. International Journal of Students’ Research, 68–69. http://doi.org/10.5549/IJSR.1.3.68-69
• What is undergraduate research?(,n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lincoln.edu/academics/experiential-learning/center-undergraduate-research/what-undergraduate-research.html
• Zenzele, W. (2010). Factors Affecting Completion of Research Projects by Students: A study of Three Zimbabwe Open University Regions. Zimbabwe International Journal of Open & Distance Learning, 1(1). Retrieved from http://researchdatabase.ac.zw/73/