Why Students Join Social Clubs in University - Research Proposal Example

Name Tutor Course Date Why students join social clubs in University Introduction Universities across Australia and other parts of the world have a high number of well organized social clubs. Almost all the students at the university belong to one club or the other. Some of the students are even members of more than one social clubs at the university. In most cases the social clubs play an essential role in enabling the students to relax after a tight academic schedule (Park, 2014). However, it is not clear why students may choose a certain social club over the other. This has therefore led to a lot of interest and research regarding why students join social clubs. Some o the students end up joining certain social clubs that does not any value to them. Although some students are faced with such situations, they continue being members of the club. The situation is different for some of the students as the social clubs ends up benefitting them. The social clubs at the universities are known for being vibrant and it has also played an essential role in contributing great ideas. This can be attributed the leadership of the social clubs which are also vibrant. Facebook is one of the leading social media in the world that was born out of the idea of social clubs at the university. The factors that motivate the students to join the social clubs differ among the individual students considering the role that the social clubs play at the university (Nicholas, et al, 2013). The research was undertaken for the purposes of establishing the why the students join social clubs. The information may be useful to the students in terms of enabling them to make proper decisions when joining the social clubs. The information can also be used by the university to advise the students about the clubs as university requires the students to join at least one social club. Methodology The participants involved in the research were mainly the university students. All the students involved in the research are from the University of Canberra. The participants were recruited since they were readily available. However, they were randomly selected in order to ensure that adequate information is obtained about the topic. The students who were selected were at different levels of their academic programs. All the participants were members of one or more social groups at the university. The information collected during research is greatly influenced by the participants and hence the need of carefully selecting them. The technique that was used to collect the information involved interviews. Face to face interviews were conducted among the participants. The use of face to face interviews play involves a direct contact with the respondents (Creswell, 2012). This method was selected since all the respondents were located at the university. Interview questions were developed and it was posted to the respondents during the interview. The interviews were recorded in order to allow for a better analysis of the information after the process. The use of interviews has an advantage in terms of obtaining information directly from the respondents. The chances of misquoting them is also lowered as the interview is recorded (Ragin, 2014). The process of gathering data requires some expertise in order to ensure accuracy. The interview with the respondents lasted for about ten minutes as the questions were brief and precise. The time was also appropriate for the respondents as they were free at the time. The research was also brief so as to ensure that the respondents are not inconvenienced in any way. High standards of ethics were maintained during the data collection process. This was in accordance with the ethical framework that was developed. None of the respondents was influenced to answer the questions in a specific manner as this would have been in compromise of the ethical framework. The data analysis was carried out through the use of statistical methods. Tables and graphs were used for the purposes of analyzing the data collected. The process of data analyzing requires a lot of accuracy in order to come up with the correct conclusions (Ragin, 2014). All the information gathered were carefully analyzed during the process in order to ensure accuracy and consistency. A lot of considerations were made during the presentation of the information. Interview questions 1. Do students join social clubs to unwind from tight academic programs? 2. Do students join university social clubs for information on attachments and part time jobs? 3. Do students join social clubs to find family to lean on when in university? Analysis, findings and discussions A group of 20 respondents were involved in the interview. Their answers were recorded in the table below based on the information that they provided. Motivational factors Number of respondents Percentage (%) To unwind after tight academic schedule 7 35 To obtain information about part time jobs and attachments 4 20 To find a family to lean on 4 20 To fulfill the university requirement 3 15 Influence from friends 2 10 Total 20 100 Graphical representation The answers provided by the students were quantified in order to come up with the statistical table. This was based on the information provided by the respondents. Since all the students were members of at least one social clubs, the provided their answers based on the factors that motivated them. When asked whether they joined the social clubs in order to obtain an opportunity to unwind after a tight academic schedule, 35% indicated that it was their main motivational factor. 20% of the students indicated that they joined the social clubs in order to obtain information about the part time jobs and attachments. The percentage was also the same for the students who indicated that they felt lonely at the university and wanted a family to lean on. 15% of the respondents indicated that they did not have any motivation behind joining the social clubs and it was only aimed at fulfilling the university requirements. 10% of the students indicated that they were influenced by their friends to join the social clubs at the university. The findings indicate that most of the students join the social clubs for the purposes of unwinding after a tight university schedule. Most of the university students at one point or another ends up with a lot of tiredness and eve stress due to the tight academic schedule. This affects the overall performance of the students (Yakunina, et al, 2013). In most cases, the students fail to find anything useful to do with their free time and this has also seen some of the students ending up in drug abuse. A majority of the students therefore join the social clubs in order to unwind after the tight schedule. The social clubs provides the students with an opportunity to meet their friends and engage in different discussions. This plays an essential role in enabling the students to relax. The social clubs in most cases usually hold their meetings after the classes and it is at this point that most students are tired and stressed (Demirel, 2009). The dean should therefore advise the students to join the social clubs as it will help them unwind after the tight academic schedule. It will also play an essential role in enabling the students to avoid ending up in drug abuse. It is however important to ensure that the students are advised to choose a social club of their own choice as opposed to being directed at a certain social club. It is much easier for the students to unwind where they are comfortable. 20% of the students indicated that they joined the social clubs in order to obtain information about attachments and part time jobs. This is a constructive thing for the students. The social clubs at the university has students with different levels of experience. Other students also have access to information about part time jobs and attachments. Joining such clubs can benefit the students who are looking for such opportunities. This is considering that some of the students at the university are paying for their own fees and upkeep (Park, 2014). Obtaining the information about the part time jobs could be helpful to such students. It is therefore important for the dean to provide such information to the students so as to ensure those who are in need of such opportunities are able to benefit. Another 20% also indicated that they joined the social clubs in order to find a family to lean on. This is a common problem for most of the students who are far away from home. The social clubs provides an opportunity for the students to meet new friends and socialize with them. This is especially common if they students are in a social club that offers such an opportunity. In social clubs where the members are free with each other and have the same likes and characteristics, it is easier for the students to find comfort in the social clubs and support one another (Nicholas, et al, 2013). Depending on the likes and dislikes of the particular student, any social club has the potential of offering such an opportunity. Of concern is however 15% of the students who indicated that they only joined the social club as it were part of the university policy for students to be members of at least one social clubs. This group of students did not derive any benefit from the social clubs that they joined. These groups of students are likely to join any club just to fulfill the requirement. This group of students in most cases lack proper information about the social clubs and they may also have personal problems. Some of the students have anti-social behaviours which makes it difficult for them to associate with other students (Hawkins, 2015). As such they do not make any meaningful contributions to the clubs that they have joined. Such students also place little or no value to the activities of the clubs. The students who lack information about the importance of the clubs may also join the club in order to fulfill the requirements of the university. It is therefore import for the dean to ensure that adequate information about the clubs as well as their importance is provided to the students. 10% of the respondents indicated that they joined the social clubs after being influenced by friends. This is should be encouraged as students always feel comfortable when they are in company of their friends (Hawkins, 2015). In such events, the friends also provide information about the activities of the social clubs. Conclusion In conclusion, some gaps were noted during the reaserch and must be adresed in future. Most of the information that was provided by the students was not detailed. Future research should focus on obtaining detailed information about the motivational factors. This may be achieved by obtaining the information about the activities of individual clubs should also be part of focus durng the research. This may play an essential role in establishing why the students prefer joining a certain social club or a social club with certain characteristics. The weakness of the reaserch was also in terms of numbers. Only twenty students were involved in the research. This can however be attributed to the lack of adeqiuate resources to carry out a comprehensive research. A high number of students should be involved in future research. This is considering that the university usulally has thousands of students. It is evident that the research was able to stablish some of the main reasons why students join the social clubs. Most of the students join the social clubs in order to unwind after a tight academic shedule. Other students alos indicates that they joined the social clubs in order to obtan information about attachments and part time jobs. Some students consider the social clubs as a place where they can find a family to lean on. The influence from friends is also a motivational factor for some of the students. It is evident that some of the students do not see any value in the social clubs and only join in order to fulfil the university requireemnt. More information should be provided to the students by the dean. This will play an important role in enabling them to join the universtities. The information may also benefit the students in the social clubs. Works Cited Creswell, J. (2012). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. London: Sage. Ragin, C. C. (2014). The comparative method: Moving beyond qualitative and quantitative strategies. California: Univ of California Press. Demirel, M. (2009). Lifelong learning and schools in the twenty-first century. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 1709-1716. Park, J. J. (2014). Clubs and the campus racial climate: Student organizations and the interracial friendship in college. Journal of college student development, 55(77), 641-660. Nicholas, G. et al. (2013). Sports clubs volunteers: bonding in or bridging out? Sociology, 47(2), 350-367. Hawkins, A. (2015). Involvement matters: The impact of involvement in student clubs and organization on student retention and persistence at urban community colleges. Texas Tech University. Yakunina, E. S. et al. (2013). International student’s personal and multicultural strengths: Reducing acculturative stress and promoting adjustment. Journal of counseling & Development, 9(12), 216-223. Read More