A Thematic analysis of the statement of the problem section in master theses: the case of EFL master students at Larbi Ben M’hidi University and TESOL master students at San Francisco University
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Date
2023
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University of Oum El Bouaghi
Abstract
Every research needs to be based on a well-articulated statement of the problem section. The statement of the problem section in research informs about the problem that targets a study. However, most English as a foreign language (EFL) master students are unaware of this essential writing part. The aim of this study is to explore how EFL master students from Larbi Ben M'hidi University write the statement of the problem section in their master theses and proposals. Additionally, it investigates the difference between how native and non-native speakers of English write this section. The content structure of the statement of the problem sections in master theses from two different universities was analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis. Two corpora of 10 sections each were collected from the English Department at University of Oum El Bouaghi in Algeria and the International and Multicultural Education Department at the University of San Francisco in the United States of America. The qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA was used for a more accurate analysis. The findings of this study revealed that contrary to the corpus of San Francisco that included the central theme 'pointing the problem' in all ten sections, 50% of the sections of non-native speakers of English did not include the theme about pointing the problem. This actively illustrates that master students could not develop a well-articulate statement of a worthy problem section as a starting point to their research due to lack of academic skills. The results of the study clearly indicate that EFL students from Larbi Ben Mhidi University encounter serious difficulties in conducting the research problem section. On this end, Pedagogical implications are stated and recommendations are suggested for further research.
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Keywords
EFL; Master theses; Thematic analysis