Challenges and Issues in Writing a Research Paper: A Case of College Students in a Private School in the Philippines

This study investigates the challenges and issues faced by college students at in research paper writing, focusing on the areas of research education, content creation, resource gathering, writing mechanics, plagiarism, and workload management. Employing a descriptive qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with students enrolled in Thesis Writing 1 and 2 for the academic year 2023-2024. Thematic analysis revealed significant challenges, including gaps in foundational research skills, resource limitations, and irregular instructional delivery. Students also reported difficulties with literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and balancing academic workloads. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as improving access to updated resources, enhancing mentorship through adviser training, and streamlining the research process to reduce delays and inefficiencies. Anchored in Cognitive Load Theory, this study underscores the importance of optimizing instructional design to mitigate cognitive overload and foster deeper engagement with research tasks. These recommendations aim to elevate the research capacity of students, contributing to institutional goals of academic excellence and research productivity