Comparative Study of Group Work Perceptions: Reluctance and Productivity in Undergraduates and Master’s Degree Students

This study compares the attitudes toward group work between first-year undergraduate students and master's degree students, examining whether their perspectives evolve through their academic journey.Drawing on cooperative learning theories from scholars such as Johnson and Johnson (1997) [1] and Panitz (1998) [2], the research investigates the reluctance of undergraduates to engage in group work.It explores how master's students perceive its productivity and impact on their studies.Data were collected from 117 undergraduate students from Computer Engineering, Robotics, and Computational Mathematics programs and 50 master's students specialising in Literature, and Language Teaching.Results indicate that while 68.85% of undergraduates view group work positively, 98% of master's students have a favourable outlook, with only 2% offering negative feedback.The findings suggest that experience and academic maturity enhance students' perceptions of the effectiveness and productivity of collaborative learning practices, being more adept at navigating cooperative tasks and recognizing their benefits in both academic and professional settings.