Graduate Student Experiences Using Easy Onsets

This qualitative study explored reports from 18 graduate students related to their experiences using easy onsets in three speaking situations for a total of 54 speaking situations recorded across all participants. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes and seven minor themes. Major Theme 1 was related to the influence that the listener and situation had on self-perceptions. The 3 minor themes that contributed to this major theme were: anxiety related to listener reactions, the telephone being an easier speaking situation, and nature of the situation having an influence. Major Theme 2 was related to the uncomfortable nature of using the skills with 2 minor themes contributing and consisting of: mental effort and energy to use the skill, and the feeling of unnatural sounding and difficulty in using the skill. Major Theme 3, the final major theme found, related to previous success and comfort using the skill. Two minor themes contributed to this same major theme and included: previous experience using the skill had an impact on self-perceptions and more comfort using the skill over multiple attempts.

http://article/25/2/61/2474658/Graduate-Student-Experiences-Using-Easy-Onsets