How students cope with part-time study

David Kember (1) , Chan Kwok Ying (1) , Chan Shun Wan (1) , Chan Siu Yung (1) , Chan Tze Wai (1) , Chang Yuk Mui (1) , Cheung Kwong Wing (1) , Lau Kwai Heung (1) , Lee Lai Sam (1) , Lee Wai Chi (1) , Li Wing Sze Wanze (1) , Tam Kam Chuen (1) , Tang Oi Yin Anne (1) , Tse Lin Chu (1) , Tse Wai Jason (1)

1 CUHK - The Chinese University of Hong Kong [Hong Kong]

This study provides a qualitative test and illustration of a model of how students cope with the demands of part-time study. The model shows that students who are successful in finding the time to complete the requirements of part-time courses do so by adopting three mechanisms; sacrifice, support and the negotiation of arrangements. All three mechanisms operate in four domains, namely work, family, social lives and the self. The mechanisms and domains were related together in a three by four matrix. Data to verify and illuminate the model were gathered by the researchers through an on-line forum discussion on the topic of coping with part-time study. The researchers themselves were studying part-time in a course called Adult Education and Professional Development. Analysis of the data showed that the work domain was very important but little adaptation was possible. The family was seen as the most important domain and all three mechanisms were used. Time was commonly found for part-time study by sacrificing social lives. The self-domain was interpreted as important in establishing motivation and self-determination.

Mots clés: attrition; coping mechanisms; model; part-time study; persistence

David Kember, Chan Kwok Ying, Chan Shun Wan, Chan Siu Yung, Chan Tze Wai, et al.. How students cope with part-time study. Active Learning in Higher Education, 2005, 6 (3), pp.230-242. ⟨10.1177/1469787405057662⟩. ⟨hal-00571931⟩