TRENDS IN THE FINAL-YEAR PROJECT TITLES FOR INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS DURING THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA

Abstract

Titles in a research project play a crucial role as they serve as the first point of contact for readers, conveying essential information about the study. Despite its brevity, crafting a good research title is a challenging undertaking that demands both time and mental exertion. The title is used to describe the content and purpose of the study using the fewest words possible. Even though students have access to the guidelines on constructing a research title, they still find it overwhelming, as they are unfamiliar with writing research papers and other publications. Considering the post-pandemic era, this study aimed to examine the titles of final-year projects among undergraduate students in the Intercultural Communication program. The analysis focused on the structure of titles, including considerations of length, beginnings, and construction types. It also sought to identify the preferred research areas and settings students chose. Employing a mixed-method design and purposive sampling, this study used only research titles from completed final-year projects. The findings shed light on the structure of titles and the research areas and settings favoured by students. This information could be beneficial for both teachers and students in the teaching and learning how to write research proposals, as well as providing insights into the linguistic areas that students can focus on.