Analysis of subjectively perceived difficulties in the master's thesis writing process using Q methodology: Focusing on international graduate students in hospitality and tourism management

This study, the first of its kind in Korea, employed Q methodology to identify the types of difficulties subjectively perceived by hospitality and tourism management-related graduate students in the master's thesis writing process and to analyze the characteristics of each type. The Q sample consisted of 47 Q statements derived through a review of previous research and in-depth interviews with international students. The P sample comprised 30 graduate students who were either currently enrolled in or had graduated from nine universities across the country. As a result of the Q classification analysis, four difficulty types were derived. The Q classification analysis identified four distinct type of difficulties. Type 1 is the ‘self-blame due to lack of ability’ type, in which students blame themselves and suffer because their thesis does not go as planned due to their lack of ability. Type 2 is the ‘burden of writing in Korean’ type, where writing in Korean is confusing and difficult during the thesis writing process. Type 3 is the ‘perseverance in overcoming difficulties’ type, which shows perseverance in completing the work to the end without giving up even though there are difficulties and obstacles in writing the thesis. Type 4 is the ‘overall thesis burden’ where people feel burdened in various aspects of the thesis process. The study expands the scope of education-related research and provides valuable practical implications for universities and faculty members in guiding international students through the thesis-writing process.