The dissertation journey during the COVID-19 pandemic: Crisis or opportunity?

Emmanuel K Opoku; Li-Hsin Chen; Sam Y Permadi

doi:10.1016/j.jhlste.2022.100374

The dissertation journey during the COVID-19 pandemic: Crisis or opportunity?

J Hosp Leis Sport Tour Educ. 2022 Jun:30:100374. doi: 10.1016/j.jhlste.2022.100374. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Authors

Emmanuel K Opoku¹, Li-Hsin Chen¹, Sam Y Permadi¹

Affiliation

¹ The International Master's Program of Tourism and Hospitality, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, No. 1, Songhe Rd., Xiaogang Dist, Kaohsiung City, 812, Taiwan.

Abstract

Despite dissertation's significance in enhancing the quality of scholarly outputs in tourism and hospitality fields, insufficient research investigates the challenges and disruptions students experience amidst a public health crisis. This study aims to fill the research gaps and integrate attribution and self-efficacy theories to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic influences students' decision-making and behaviours during the dissertation writing process. Qualitative exploration with 15 graduate students was conducted. The results indicate that adjustment of data collection approaches was the most shared external challenge, while students' religious background and desire for publishing COVID related topics were primary internal motivations.

Keywords: Attribution theory; COVID-19; Dissertation writing; Pandemic; Self-efficacy theory.