Van Vuuren, Leana
English: The purpose of this study was to identify the problems that study leaders from the School of Nursing, at the University of the Free State encountered with giving study guidance to students and thereafter to develop strategies to improve study guidance. The implementation of these strategies would then improve the through put of postgraduate students. A qualitative, descriptive study design was used and information was gathered through the nominal group technique. The findings were that study leaders experienced a deficit in their training as study leaders, as well as a deficit in experience of providing study guidance. Study leaders also experienced uncertainty with regard to administrative procedures and a challenge to stay abreast of the development regarding research methodologies as well as development concerning the different sub-disciplines. A high workload was also identified as being problematic. Further problems experienced were students’ deficit regarding skills needed to complete research studies. Students also do not keep appointments and reacted negatively on feedback that were given to them. It is recommended that study leaders receive training with regard to giving of study guidance. Other strategies that were formulated are that study leaders be exposed to group study guidance before they embark on giving individual study guidance. Group study guidance can also diminish study leaders’ workload. New study leaders can also initially be allocated as co-study leaders to provide them with experience . With regard to the students, it is suggested that a contract should be implemented at the commencement of their studies. Such a contract could address what is expected from the students as well as the study leaders; it can guide the study guidance process and may diminish possible conflict. The lack of identified skills of the students can be addressed by implementing a more strict selection process and implementation of a pre-study module. If other skills deficits are identified during the study guidance process, it should be addressed either by the study leader or by referring the students to applicable resources. More emphasis should also be directed towards the development of research skills in undergraduate programs. Some of the identified study guidance problems in this study are universal, while others were unique to the specific institution and situation. Some of the proposed strategies, such as training of study leader are universal, while others such as administrative issues are specific to the institution.
Afrikaans: Die doel van die studie was om probleme wat studieleiers met studieleiding in die Skool vir Verpleegkunde aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat ondervind, te identifiseer en daarna strategieë te ontwikkel ten einde studieleiding te bevorder. Die implementering van die strategieë sal uiteindelik die deurvloei van nagraadse studente bevorder. ‘n Kwalitatiewe, beskrywende studie-ontwerp is gebruik en inligting is deur middel van die nominalegroep tegniek ingesamel. Daar is bevind dat studieleiers hul beperkte ervaring en voorbereiding ten opsigte van studieleiding as ’n leemte ervaar. Onsekerheid omtrent administratiewe prosedures en die uitdaging om met die verskeie navorsingsmetodologieë en ontwikkeling op elke vakgebied op hoogte te bly, sowel as ’n hoë werkslading is ook as probleme geïdentifiseer. Verdere probleme met studieleiding was dat studente gebrek aan vaardighede het wat benodig is om navorsing studies suksesvol te voltooi. Studieleiers het ook ondervind dat studente nie hulle afsprake nakom nie en dat die studente negatief reageer op het op die terugvoer wat hulle ontvang. Daar word aanbeveel dat studieleiers opleiding insake studieleiding moet ontvang. Verdere strategieë is dat studieleiers eers by groep studieleiding moet inskakel voordat hulle individueel studieleiding gee. Groepstudieleiding mag studieleiers se werksladings verminder. Nuweling studieleiers kan ook aanvanklik as mede studieleier aangewys word ten einde ervaring op te doen. Ten opsigte van die studente word voorgestel dat daar ’n kontrak met die aanvang van ‘n studie aangegaan word. So ‘n kontrak kan verwagtinge van die student en studieleier uitklaar, die werkswyse rig en sodoende moontlike konflik verminder. Die geïdentifiseerde gebreke aan vaardighede by die studente kan deur ‘n strenger keuringsproses en die voltooiing van ’n navorsings-voorstudiemodule aangespreek word. Ander leemtes wat tydens die studieleidingproses geïdentifiseer word, moet aangespreek word, hetsy deur die studieleier self of deur die student na toepaslike hulpbronne te verwys. Meer klem op die ontwikkeling van navorsingsvaardighede kan ook in voorgraadse programme geïmplementeer word. Van die studieleidingprobleme wat in hierdie studie uitgewys is, is universeel, terwyl ander uniek aan die spesifieke instansie en situasie is. Van die strategieë, soos byvoorbeeld die opleiding van studieleiers is universeel van toepassing, terwyl die omtrent administratiewe prosedures instansie-spesifiek is.