CONTENTS

CONTENTS 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4
ABSTRACT 5
1. INTRODUCTION 6
1.1 Driving Part-Time Study & Employment 6
1.1.1 Motivation for Part-Time Study 7
1.2 Barriers of Part-Time Study & Employment 9
1.2.1 Sustaining Balance 10
1.2.3 Time Management 11
1.2.3 Financial Aspects of Part-Time Study 13
1.3 Support Systems 15
1.4 Summary 16
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 18
2.1. Design 18
2.2 Participants 20
2.3 Procedure 21
2.4 Ethical Consideration 23
2.5 Data Analysis 24
3. RESULTS 25
3.1 Motivation for Part-Time Study 26
3.2 Sustaining Balance 27
3.3 Time Management 28
3.4 Financial Aspects of Part-Time Study 28
3.5 Support Systems 29
3.6 Emotional Impact Relating to Part-Time Study 30
3.6.1 Impressions of Positive Feelings as a Result of Part-Time Study 30
3.6.2 Impressions of Negative Feelings as a Result of Part-Time Study 31
3.6.3 Emotional Impact on Support Systems 33
3.7 Outcome & Experience of Part-Time Study 34
3.8 Nature of Competition in Irish Society 34
3.9 Summary 36
4. DISCUSSION 37
4.1 Summary of Results 37
4.2 Motivation for Part-Time Study 38
4.3 Sustaining Balance 39
4.4 Time Management 39
4.5 Financial Aspects of Part-Time Study 40
4.6 Support Systems 40
4.7 Emotional Impact Relating to Part-time Study 41
4.8 Outcome & Experience of Part-Time Study 42
4.9 Nature of Competition in Irish Society 42
4.10 Limitations 43
4.11 Suggestions for Future Research 44
4.12 Conclusion 44
REFERENCES 46
APPENDICES 48
Appendix 1: Researcher‟s Information/Letter of Informed Consent 48
Appendix 2: Interview Schedule 49
Appendix 3: Participant Background & Information 50