The perceptions of first year students on the impact of relocation on their adjustment at university : a relocation study.

摘要

The research aims to establish the perceived impact of relocation on first year student’sudability to cope with academic demands at University.udThe research intends to answer the following questions: How do first year studentsudperceive their adjustment at University? Has the relocation impacted on the studentsudfunctioning on any level? For example: -Academically, Emotionally, Physically andudSocially.udA large number of young adults relocate due to the need to pursue their chosen careers atudthe University. However, this happens at a time in their life when there is a lot of turmoiludaround social and individual identity and the pressures from society to achieve, includingudpressures to secure their future. This happens independently from parents and relevantudsocial ties when students study away from home.udA qualitative methodology was used for the research. The sample consisted of 10 Blackudfemale post matric first year students at University. The age range of participants wasudbetween 17 and 20. Data was collected through the use of semi structured interviews.udGathered data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. This involves organizing theuddata into categories on the bases of the themes and concepts. The concepts were thenudlinked up in the form of a sequence. Eight steps were then followed when analyzing theuddata, which forms part of the criteria for thematic content analysis.udResults obtained indicate that students find relocation to be a perturbing experienceudwhich pushes one out of their comfort zone into the unknown. This experience forces oneudto make numerous adjustments. The move taps into one's ability to deal with ambiguities,udfunction independently and implement a task to deal with unanticipated challenges. Thusudstudents are expected to take on the role of young adulthood. This brings with it theudreality that they now have to be independent. As a result of this, most students getudinvolved in what is called goal modification, namely focusing on what they would likeudinstead of focusing on what their parents would want.udThe process is challenging as one is going through a process of loss and, in other ways,udgain. The loss of social capital is felt as having a negative impact on academicudperformance. This is because students loose their source of motivation, support andudreliable company. They now have to source it within themselves, an attribute which hasudproven to be difficult. Relocation is viewed as a compounding variable to otherudchallenging factors to students. Hence the students’ relocation is perceived to be audvariable which tends to have a negative affect on students’ academic performance. This isuddue to the fact that relocation tends to create a sense of discontinuity from knownudacademic structures, social support ties and familiar surroundings. The loss of the aboveudmentioned factors tends to aggravate the process of academic adjustment.