Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe motivational factors that increased open distance learning (ODL) students’ capacity to successfully graduate with master’s and doctoral credentials. Study background revealed that Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) persistently experiences increased...

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Main Authors: Lewis Madhlangobe, Jennifer Chikasha, Onias Mafa, Primrose Kurasha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2014-07-01
Series:SAGE Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014544291
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author Lewis Madhlangobe
Jennifer Chikasha
Onias Mafa
Primrose Kurasha
author_facet Lewis Madhlangobe
Jennifer Chikasha
Onias Mafa
Primrose Kurasha
author_sort Lewis Madhlangobe
collection DOAJ
description The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe motivational factors that increased open distance learning (ODL) students’ capacity to successfully graduate with master’s and doctoral credentials. Study background revealed that Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) persistently experiences increased levels of student dropout and competition from conventional universities that introduce ODL through “block-release” programs. We used a descriptive qualitative research approach to collect and analyze data—hence, data collection through audio-recorded open-ended semi-structured interviews helped to maintain accurate accounts of data. We presented data through themed reporting enhanced by direct quotes from participants. Our research broadly concluded that once participants registered to study, perceived attention from various social angles created immense motivational factors ranging from institution motivators, personal factors, and social-generated motivators such as fear of what society would think of them all motivated them to persist and graduate with proposed credentials.
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spelling doaj.art-f4a6721c182049c7bc2caead9006d6e92022-12-21T23:39:12ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402014-07-01410.1177/215824401454429110.1177_2158244014544291Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)Lewis Madhlangobe0Jennifer Chikasha1Onias Mafa2Primrose Kurasha3Zimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo, ZimbabweZimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo, ZimbabweZimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo, ZimbabweZimbabwe Open University, Bulawayo, ZimbabweThe purpose of this qualitative study was to describe motivational factors that increased open distance learning (ODL) students’ capacity to successfully graduate with master’s and doctoral credentials. Study background revealed that Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) persistently experiences increased levels of student dropout and competition from conventional universities that introduce ODL through “block-release” programs. We used a descriptive qualitative research approach to collect and analyze data—hence, data collection through audio-recorded open-ended semi-structured interviews helped to maintain accurate accounts of data. We presented data through themed reporting enhanced by direct quotes from participants. Our research broadly concluded that once participants registered to study, perceived attention from various social angles created immense motivational factors ranging from institution motivators, personal factors, and social-generated motivators such as fear of what society would think of them all motivated them to persist and graduate with proposed credentials.https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014544291
spellingShingle Lewis Madhlangobe
Jennifer Chikasha
Onias Mafa
Primrose Kurasha
Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
SAGE Open
title Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
title_full Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
title_fullStr Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
title_full_unstemmed Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
title_short Persistence, Perseverance, and Success (PPS)
title_sort persistence perseverance and success pps
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244014544291
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