Analyzing Students' Lived Experiences of Living in Student Dormitories (A Case Study of Farhangian University Students in Alborz Province)

This article analyzes the lived experiences of Farhangian University students from living in student dormitories. Living in student dormitories, as a hidden curriculum, can have deep cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects on students. Analysis of lived experiences of students from living in student dormitories provides valuable information to the educational administrators of universities. The statistical population of this research consists of undergraduate students of Farhangian University of Alborz. The samples were selected based on purposive sampling. The samples examined in this research are 16 students. The number of the participants was determined based on the principle of theoretical saturation. All the studied samples lived in student dormitories. The research method is a qualitative with a phenomenological approach. Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews and the method of data analysis is thematic analysis. Students' lived experiences of living in student dormitories were categorized into 10 categories and 3 main themes. The main themes are student lifestyle, individual learning experiences, and social learning experiences. The study of students' lived experiences shows that living in student dormitories is a kind of lifestyle. This lifestyle has problems and limitations. It has important social and personal learning consequences for students. An important part of students' learning at Farhangian University takes place in student dormitories. Therefore, this part of students' learning opportunities and resources must be paid attention to by managers and educational administrators, and policy makers.