Factors Influencing Students' Sense of Institutional Belonging to the University They Attend
Abstract views: 13
/ 
PDF downloads: 4
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18150781Keywords:
Institutional belonging. , university students , higher educationAbstract
This study aims to examine the factors affecting university students' sense of institutional belonging with a qualitative approach. Using a phenomenological research design, it is aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of students' experiences of belonging. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 76 students studying at Eskişehir Osmangazi University and the data obtained were analyzed using descriptive analysis method. The findings showed that the factors affecting students' institutional belonging were grouped under six main themes: Academic Factors, Social Factors, Cultural Factors, Emotional Factors, Personal Factors and Geo-physical Environment. Among academic factors, the attractiveness of the courses and the competence of the academics stand out, while club activities and the circle of friends play an important role in social factors. In cultural factors, social activities and cultural organizations reinforce the sense of belonging. In emotional factors, academics' being caring and understanding is decisive, while in personal factors, career goals and job aspirations affect belonging. In geographical-physical environment factors, the location and physical structure of the campus and the facilities offered by the institution stand out. These results emphasize that universities should develop multidimensional strategies to strengthen students' sense of belonging.
References
Allen, K., Slaten, C., Hong, S., Lan, M., Craig, H., May, F., & Counted, V. (2024). Belonging in higher education: A twenty-year systematic review. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 21(5).
Bean, J. P., & Metzner, B. S. (1985). A conceptual model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition. Review of Educational Research, 55(4), 485-540.
Bourdieu, P., & Wacquant, L. J. D. (1992). An invitation to reflexive sociology. University of Chicago Press.
Brown, L. N. (2016). Narratives of belonging amongst students at a historically White University (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., Karadeniz, Ş., & Demirel, F. (2015). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri. Pegem Akademi.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2016). Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dost, G., & Mazzoli Smith, L. (2023). Understanding higher education students’ sense of belonging: a qualitative meta-ethnographic analysis. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 47(6), 822–849.
Freeman, T. M., Anderman, L. H., & Jensen, J. M. (2007). Sense of belonging in college freshmen at the classroom and campus levels. The Journal of Experimental Education, 75(3), 203–220.
Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: A modified Husserlian approach. Duquesne University Press.
Goodenow, C., & Grady, K. E. (1993). The relationship of school belonging to adolescent academic motivation: An examination of race and ethnic differences. Journal of Experimental Education, 62(1), 60–71.
Gündoğan, T., & Müdürlüğü, İ. K. G. (2009). Örgütsel Bağlilik: Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankasi Uygulamasi. Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası İnsan Kaynakları Genel Müdürlüğü, 31-61.
Hausmann, L. R. M., Schofield, J. W., & Woods, R. L. (2007). Sense of belonging as a predictor of intentions to persist among African American and White first-year college students. Research in Higher Education, 48(7), 803–839.
Hoffman, M., Richmond, J., Morrow, J., & Salomone, K. (2002). Investigating “sense of belonging” in first-year college students. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 4(3), 227–256.
Landis, J. R., & Koch, G. G. (1977). The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 33(1), 159–174.
Matthews, K. E., Andrews, V., & Adams, P. (2011). Social learning spaces and student engagement. Higher Education Research & Development, 30(2), 105-120.
McEwen, C., Mueller, B., Trede, F., Archer, B., & Zappia, M. (2025). Advancing inclusive practices in higher education: possibilities and limitations of a social justice professional development course. Studies in Continuing Education, 47(2), 457–473.
Moustakas, C. (1994). Phenomenological research methods. SAGE Publications.
ÖKSÜZ, Y., & Adem, İ. C. İ. (2024). İlköğretim Okullari Yöneticilerinin Örgütsel Bağlilik Düzeyleri İle Ertelemecilik Davranişlari Arasindaki İlişki. The Journal of Academic Social Science Studies, 5(5 Issue 4), 161-182.
Olcay, E., Alpboğa, R., Açar, M.S., Karaman, S. Çelik, S. & Deniz, İ. (2023). “Örgütsel Bağlılık Kavramı ve Kuramlarına Genel Bir Bakış”, Journal of Social, Humanities and Administrative Sciences, 9(62):2558-2569.
Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Pittman, L. D., & Richmond, A. (2008). University belonging and friendship quality: Links to psychological adjustment during the transition to college. The Journal of Experimental Education, 76(4), 343–362.
Ridder, H. G. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis. A Methods Sourcebook 3rd Edition. SAGE Publications.
Strayhorn, T. L. (2012). College students’ sense of belonging: A key to educational success for all students. Routledge.
Thomas, L., & Jones, R. (2017). Student engagement in the context of commuter students. London: The Student Engagement Partnership (TSEP).
Tinto, V. (1975). Dropout from higher education: A theoretical synthesis of recent research. Review of Educational Research, 45(1), 89-125.
Türk Dil Kurumu. (2025). https://sozluk.gov.tr adresinden alınmıştır.
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2018). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (11. baskı). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Toplum, Eğitim ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
