Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

Region V (Bicol)

School Division of Albay

TABACO COLLEGE

#5 Tomas Cabiles Avenue, Tabaco City

Exploring the Challenges Faced by First-Year Criminology Students of Tabaco College: An In-Depth
Investigation

Members:

Quitasol Ivanne Glenn C.

Cerdeño Leiza M.

Borromeo Jomar B.
CHAPTER 1

 Introduction and Background of the study

 Statement of the Problem
 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
 Objective of the study
 Significance of the study
 Limitation of the study
 Definition of Terms

CHAPTER 2

Review Related of Literature

CHAPTER 3

 Research Design
 Subjects
 Outcomes
 Condition of Testing
 Data Analysis

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

A student’s academic journey undergoes significant changes and adjustments during the transition
to higher education. This study explores the particular challenges faced by first-year criminology students
as they begin their academic and career journey in the discipline. We hope to bring awareness of
potential areas for improvement in curriculum design, academic support systems, and the overall
student experience by recognizing and grasping these challenges.

Background of the Study

First-year criminology students have to deal with a variety of personal, social, and academic
difficulties that can affect both their general well-being and academic achievement. These difficulties
could include adjusting to the demanding requirements of criminology coursework, figuring out
complicated theories, and overcoming the subject’s often difficult emotional content.
 Furthermore, transferring from secondary to college education presents an additional set of
challenges, including adapting to new learning settings, making friends, and handling more
responsibilities. For educators, administrators, and legislators to create focused interventions and
support systems that can improve criminology students’ first-year experience, they must have a
thorough understanding of these difficulties.

Our goal is to provide a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by first-year criminology
students of Tabaco College through this research, which will help develop methods to support a more
encouraging and stimulating learning environment within the field of criminology.

Statement of the Problem

This study will determine the struggles of the respondents. Specifically, this study aims to answer
these following questions:

1. What are the struggles that the respondents are facing in his/her first year journey?

2. What adjustments in educational approaches and support system can be made to improved the
learning experiences of the respondents?

3. What is the most common problem that the respondents encounter?

Significance of the study

This study aims to address challenges faced by the criminology freshmen’s . Exploring issues like
this can be beneficial to gain understanding and encourage approaches to improve criminology student’s
first-year experience and boost their general well being. This study will also be beneficial to the school
since this can lead to improvements in the education system of Tabaco College. This study will contribute
to the expansion of knowledge regarding the significance of addressing the struggles that the first year
criminology students encounter.

Limitations of the study

This study focuses only on First year criminology students of the school year 2023-2024,Block A to
Block F only for the reason that it is time consuming if all the blocks of first year will be the respondents.
The researchers did not include the students who have transferred to other school and students who
have shift to other courses.
 CHAPTER 2

As stated by Hamilton, G., Liston, R., Stratton, G., Ryan, J., Mclean, H., & Hiscock, R. ,(2019) will see
an increase in the quantity and diversity of undergraduate criminology students, leading to the need to
support students as they transition into the field, particularly during their first year. While many
disciplines have made it standard practice to incorporate academic skills into the curriculum, criminology
is a relatively new field to do so. While it can enhance student engagement and academic achievement,
integrating academic skills into first-year criminology courses necessitates matching expectations with
student behaviors.

The number of students pursuing criminology at colleges has grown dramatically worldwide.
According to Levi (2017), there are currently over 800 undergraduate criminology programs offered by
more than 100 universities in the United Kingdom alone. Students often choose to study criminology
because they find it to be a “interesting” subject (Walters and Kremser, 2016). However, first-year
criminology students’ struggles may influence their decision to continue with the course or not. If the
problems related to their struggles are not adequately addressed, there’s a chance that fewer students
will be studying criminology.

According to Walters and Kremser (2016), “students frequently cite criminology as a ‘interesting’
subject as their motivation for studying it.” A student’s individual challenges may cause them to lose
interest in studying criminology.

CHAPTER 3

Research Design

This study is a qualitative type of research and uses the phenomenology research design combined
with an in-depth investigation to address and identify the struggles of the first year criminology students
of Tabaco College. The researchers uses this research model since the researchers seeks data that
addresses people’s experiences with and perceptions of a phenomenon.

Subjects

The respondents of this research are the first year criminology students of Tabaco College from
block A to block F. Our respondents has a total of approximately 270 first year criminology students.
The researchers selected the respondents randomly based on the researchers capabilities and
preferences.
Outcomes

A combination of interviews and observations was conducted to the criminology students in the
school year 2023-2024 from Block A- Block F.
To validate the interview questions, we consulted a purpose communication teacher for approval.

First-year criminology students often have trouble with issues like adapting to a new academic
setting, comprehending difficult theories, and putting up with a demanding workload. Additionally, they
struggle to navigate the multidisciplinary field of criminology, which integrates elements of sociology,
psychology, and law, as well as to develop critical thinking abilities. It can also be difficult for some
students to maintain a balance between theory and real-world applications; it takes time and effort to
close the knowledge gap between academics and practitioners.

Conditions of Testing

The researchers chose the first year criminology students in Block -A to Block-F. The respondents
will not be forced in this study but rather must be willing to answer the interviews given by the
researchers honestly and seriously.

Data Analysis

The researchers analyze the results of the interviews and the data gathered. Based on the results,
it shows that first-year criminology students face financial difficulties due to the price of lectures, tuitions
and everyday transportation, even fieldwork and miscellaneous costs. Stress related to academics result
from mental strain brought on by hard coursework and the need to understand complicated theories.
Students experience physical exhaustion as a result of extended study sessions and hands-on activities.
The subject matter, which frequently deals with crime and societal issues, is emotionally draining for
some due to its intensity. Maintaining mental and emotional well-being also requires establishing a
support system and adjusting to a new social setting.

Educational institution of Tabaco College can introduce interactive learning methods, offer
counseling services, provide financial aid and resources, offer study skills workshops, mentorship
programs, flexible learning options, community-building activities, regular feedback, clear
communication, and diversity and inclusion initiatives to improve the learning experiences of first-year
criminology students of Tabaco College. These changes are intended to foster a more encouraging and
welcoming atmosphere, which will enhance students’ educational experiences as a whole.
Trebilcock, J., & Griffiths, C. (2021). Student motivations for studying criminology: A narrative inquiry.
Criminology & Criminal Justice, 22, 480 – 497. https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895821993843.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1748895821993843