Title:
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From home to university: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of students' experiences of transition
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Up to 50% of young people in the UK attend university on leaving school
(Adams, 2013). Although different aspects of this transition have been examined
empirically, little attention has been paid to how young people experience it, despite
the finding that almost 30% of students exhibit clinical levels of distress during their
time at university (Kerr, 2013).
The present study used qualitative methods to explore how individuals make
sense of their experience of the transition to university. Ten undergraduate students
(7 women, 3 men) were interviewed, and their responses analysed using
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA; Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009).
IP A seeks to provide a psychological interpretation of participants' experiences and
identify commonalities between different accounts, whilst remaining grounded in the
ideo graphic experiences of individuals.
Four super-ordinate themes were produced for men, and four for women.
Four whole-group themes were also produced. All participants talked about
establishing a secure base at university, finding a secure base in new friendships at
university, development and personal growth, and coming to terms with the reality of
university life. These applied to both men and women, but men emphasised the
importance of personal growth and shaping their self-development, whilst women
prioritised developing a sound social platform.
A discussion of these themes in relation to extant literature is then presented,
followed by a critique of the present study. Recommendations for further research
are also made, and implications for policy and practice are explored. The importance
of expanding this area of study is also emphasised.
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