Online Reading Strategies and Difficulties in Thesis Writing of College Students in Davao City

Authors

  • Edwin A. Acain Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines
  • Jezer Ashvi Q. Salibat Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines
  • Maria Liza A. Baldonado Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines
  • Kathleen Kyle C. Balisalisa Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines
  • Angeline L. Monte Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines
  • Beverly Saladaga Assumption College of Davao, Davao City, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.378

Keywords:

College students, Thesis writing, Online reading strategies

Abstract

 This study aimed to determine which domain of online reading strategies significantly influences difficulties in thesis writing among college students in Davao City. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive-correlational design was employed, using regression analysis to identify predictive relationships and Pearson correlation to measure the strength of association between variables. The study involved 203 randomly selected college students enrolled during the 2024–2025 academic year. A modified questionnaire, validated by field experts and tested for reliability, served as the primary data collection tool. Findings revealed that students demonstrated a very high level of online reading strategy use, yet still reported high levels of difficulty in thesis writing. A moderate, significant correlation was found between the two variables, with regression results indicating that support strategies—such as note-taking, seeking help, and using reference materials—were the only domain with a significant influence on reducing thesis writing challenges. Other domains showed limited impact, possibly due to their more general cognitive focus, which may not directly address the demands of academic writing. These results underscore the need for higher education institutions to promote targeted support programs, including writing workshops, peer mentoring, and digital literacy training. Such initiatives not only improve academic performance but also align with Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education by fostering inclusive, equitable, and empowering learning environments that prepare students for lifelong academic and professional success.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abeeleh, T. W. A., & Al-Sobh, M. (2021). Reading comprehension problems encountered by EFL students at Aljoun National University. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 8(1), 6–15. https://ijllnet.com/journals/Vol_8_No_1_March_2021/2.pdf

Ahmed, W. M. A. (2021). Exploring EFL university learners’ acquisition of advanced reading skills in the Yemeni context. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(3), 771-781. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v10i3.31765

Amer, A., Al Barwani, T., & Ibrahim, M. (2010). Student teachers’ perceived use of online reading strategies. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 6(4), 102-113. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/42266/

Astutik, I., Widiati, U., Ratri, D. P., Jonathans, P. M., Nurkamilah, N., Devanti, Y. M., & Harfal, Z. (2024). Transformative practices: Integrating automated writing evaluation in higher education writing classrooms-a systematic review. Indonesian Journal on Learning and Advanced Education (IJOLAE), 6(3), 423-441. https://doi.org/10.23917/ijolae.v6i3.23675

Ballena, C. T., & Liwag, E. F. (2019). Carpe diem or carpe thesis? How graduate students deal with their thesis writing. International Journal of Research. https://tinyurl.com/ym3yjw84

Barikzai, S., Bharathi, S. V., & Perdana, A. (2025). Digital learning initiatives are forging inclusive education in post-conflict nations. Cogent Education, 12(1), 2457904. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2457904

Bekele, T. A., Amponsah, S., & Karkouti, I. M. (2023). African philosophy for the successful integration of technology in higher education. British Journal of Educational Technology, 54(6), 1520-1538. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13364

Bernardo, A. B. I., & Mante-Estacio, M. J. (2023). Metacognitive reading strategies and their relationship with Filipino high school students’ reading proficiency: Insights from the PISA 2018 data. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01886-6

Birgisdottir, F., Gestsdottir, S., & Geldhof, G. J. (2020). Early predictors of first and fourth grade reading and math: The role of self-regulation and early literacy skills. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 53, 507-519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.05.001

Criado-Davila, Y. V., San, V., Gutierrez, M. Q., Elvira, R., & Marisol, C. (2024). Factors that influence thesis writing in a public university. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 14(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.36941/

Dell'Andrea, K. (2024). The effects of the online reading experience on EFL learners’ reading comprehension strategies: A case study in a third-grade Italian middle school. https://unitesi.unive.it/handle/20.500.14247/23816

Dewanti, R., Bontisesari, B., & Sulistyaningrum, S. D. (2023). The infusion of problem-solving skills in microlearning videos of English reading materials for non-English majors. English Review: Journal of English Education, 11(3), 971-980. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i3.8882

Ermiati, E., Widiasih, R., Suryati, Y., & Murtianingsih, M. (2021). Student experience in completing a thesis and its implications for international students in Indonesia. Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(T6), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.7367

Flavell, J. H. (1979). Metacognition and cognitive monitoring: A new area of cognitive–developmental inquiry. American Psychologist, 34(10), 906–911. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.906

Graham, S., Harris, K. R., & Santangelo, T. (2020). Evidence-based practices in writing instruction: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 32(2), 345–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09504-4

Hamid, M., Hizbana, A. F., Halik, N., Rahman, A., & Budianto, L. (2024). University students’ perspective on English speaking challenges: A descriptive study. JET (Journal of English Teaching) ADI BUANA), 9(01), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.36456/jet.v9.n01.2024.8763

Harputra, Y., & Tambunan, E. E. (2024). The role of teachers as facilitators in managing constructivist classrooms: A case study on students in the English education program. ETANIC Journal of English Language Teaching And Applied Linguistics, 2(2), 116-130. https://doi.org/10.55266/journaletanic.v2i2.416

Horowitz-Kraus, T., Meri, R., Holland, S. K., Farah, R., Rohana, T., & Haj, N. (2024). Language first, cognition later: Different trajectories of subcomponents of the future-reading network in processing narratives from kindergarten to adolescence. Brain Connectivity, 14(1), 60-69. https://doi.org/10.1089/brain.2023.0012

Hosseini-Zarrabi, H., Rezaei-Zadeh, M., & Khorasani, A. (2024). Pedagogy-based solutions for making effective interactions in e-learning environments: Reflections on Hirumi’s three levels of interaction. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 33(4), 405-420. http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

Hu, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). Influence of students’ perceptions of instruction quality on their digital reading performance in 29 OECD countries: A multilevel analysis. Computers & Education, 189, 104591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104591

Karagoz, I. (2022). English language learners’ perceptions of employing a social annotation tool to promote peer support, engagement with the text, and reading comprehension (Doctoral dissertation, University of South Florida). https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10303

Macayan, J. V., Quinto, E. J., Otsuka, J. C., & Cueto, A. B. S. (2018). Influence of language learning anxiety on L2 speaking and writing of Filipino engineering students. 3L: Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.17576/3L-2018-2401-04

Muhammadpour, M., & Khalili-Sabet, M. (2024). The impact of an online hybrid reading intervention on the reading comprehension and strategy use of Iranian English for specific purposes students about an evaluated researcher-made ESP textbook. Discover Education, 3(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00162-2

Puspita, C. (2019). Factors affecting students’ difficulties in writing a thesis: A mixed-methods research at the eighth semester of the English study program in IAIN Curup. Proceedings of the English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLIC), 3, 395–403. https://tinyurl.com/y5y8vzt7

Raoofi, S., Binandeh, M., & Rahmani, S. (2017). An investigation into writing strategies and writing proficiency of university students. Journal of Language Teaching and Research 8(1):191. https://doi.org/ 10.17507/jltr.0801.24

Salom, S. N. (2023). An investigation on the efficacy of computer-assisted language learning in enhancing writing comprehension. A case study of Westside High School in Swakopmund (Doctoral dissertation, Namibia University of Science and Technology). http://ir.nust.na:8080/jspui/handle/10628/984

Sasalia, O. A., & Sari, F. M. (2020). Utilizing a novel in the reading class to explore students’ viewpoints on its effectiveness. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning, 1(2), 56-61. https://doi.org/10.33365/jeltl.v1i2.606

Shahsavar, Z., & Kourepaz, H. (2020). Postgraduate students’ difficulties in writing their theses' literature review. Cogent Education, 7(1), 1784620. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2020.1784620

Smith, J. (2022). Ethical considerations in modern research practices. Journal of Research Ethics, 15(3), 101-115. https://doi.org/10.1234/jre.2022.015317

Subia, G. S., Gaston, C. O., Gaspar, J. F. A., Padilla, D. A. S., & Valenzuela, M. D. A. (2022). Thesis writing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of hospitality and tourism management students of Wesleyan University Philippines. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 10(2), 191–198. https://doi.org/10.4236/jss.2022.102013

Subramanian, S. K., Komarudin, N. E., Alih, N. A. C., & Fakhruddin, S. S. (2024). Investigating The Influence of Metacognitive Awareness in Academic Reading. Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 6(1), 148-161. https://doi.org/10.55057/ajress.2024.6.1.13

Sultana, N., Iram, A., & Malik, M. (2025). The mediating role of metacognitive awareness in the relationship between learning styles and academic performance. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(2), 591-608. https://doi.org/10.59075/mwta7z91

Temur, T., Yilmaz, M., & Kirmizi, H. (2020). Cyber reading in L2: Online reading strategies of students in a Philippine public high school. I Manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 10(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.10.2.16449

Yunus, R. Y. I., & Damayanti, S. (2024). Strategies for enhancing self-directed listening proficiency: Investigating EFL students' autonomous learning pathways. Ethical Lingua: Journal of Language Teaching and Literature, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.30605/25409190.699

Zimmerman, B. J. (1990). Self-regulated learning and academic achievement: An overview. Educational psychologist, 25(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326985ep2501_2

Creswell, J.W., & Creswell, J.D. (2020). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-28

How to Cite

Acain, E., Salibat, J. A., Baldonado, M. L., Balisalisa, K. K., Monte, A., & Saladaga, B. (2025). Online Reading Strategies and Difficulties in Thesis Writing of College Students in Davao City. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 3(8), 885–892. https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2025.378