Undergraduate thesis proposal writing: Problems and causes

Novia Hayati; Via Luviana Dewanty; Sudjianto Sudjianto

doi:10.17509/jik.v21i2.63241

Abstract

Writing a research proposal is one of the requirements for university students to be able to write an undergraduate thesis. It requires high academic writing skills that most students find challenging. Even so, this skill can still be taught as long as lecturers have knowledge of students’ abilities and difficulties in writing. This qualitative study is conducted to serve this purpose. They involve two data collection methods: document analysis and Focused Group Discussion (FGD). This case-study research investigated problems and causes in writing a research proposal faced by students studying Program Japanese Language at a public university in Bandung in writing a research proposal. The results were analyzed from general and specific factors as follows: generally, their problems lie in the lack of students’ knowledge of systematicity, components, and elements supporting the components of a research proposal. Further, three factors were responsible for the causes of the problems, including low-quality references, insufficient information provided in the teaching materials and the teaching, and less exposure and effort on readings. The results of identifying the problems and causes will be used as a reference for developing teaching materials for writing research proposals in the Research Methodology Course.

Abstrak

Sebagian besar mahasiswa jenjang pendidikan Sarjana menganggap penulisan proposal cukup menantang karena membutuhkan keterampilan menulis akademis yang tinggi. Pengetahuan tentang menulis akademik memegang peranan penting untuk membantu mahasiswa mengembangkan kemampuan dan meminimalisir kesulitan mereka dalam menulis proposal penelitian skripsi. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan melibatkan dua jenis metode pengumpulan data yaitu analisis dokumen (dokumen proposal penelitian) dan Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Penelitian studi kasus ini menyelidiki apa yang menjadi penyebab permasalahan dalam penulisan proposal penelitian yang dihadapi mahasiswa Program Studi Bahasa Jepang di salah satu perguruan tinggi negeri di Bandung. Dokumen dan data FGD dianalisis berdasarkan faktor umum dan faktor khusus, dan memiliki hasil sebagai berikut; permasalahan secara umum terletak pada kurangnya pengetahuan mahasiswa mengenai sistematika, komponen, dan unsur pendukung komponen proposal penelitian; sedangkan permasalahan khusus yang ditemukan adalah kesulitan mahasiswa dalam menentukan tema atau topik, mengorganisasikan ide dan teks, dan menggunakan fitur-fitur kebahasaan. Lebih jauh lagi, terdapat tiga faktor yang menjadi penyebab permasalahan-permasalahan tersebut, yaitu rendahnya kualitas referensi, kurangnya informasi yang diberikan dalam bahan ajar dan pengajaran, serta kurangnya upaya dalam membaca. Hasil identifikasi masalah dan penyebab yang didapat dari penelitian ini akan dijadikan acuan pengembangan bahan ajar penulisan proposal penelitian pada Mata Kuliah Metodologi Penelitian.

Kata Kunci: Proposal penelitian; masalah; mata kuliah metodologi penelitian; menulis; skripsi

Keywords:

methodology course problems research research proposal undergraduate thesis writing

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