Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of University Students' Experiences of National Identity among Indonesian University Students in the Digital Age: An IPA Approach
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Abstract
National identity formation has increasingly become crucial in Citizenship Education, particularly amidst rapid digital globalization affecting university students. Existing research often overlooks the subjective dimensions of students’ experiences in negotiating identity within digital contexts. How Indonesian university students interpret and balance their national identities against global influences through digital interactions has not been thoroughly examined. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), this study explored students’ subjective experiences, revealing their active engagement and nuanced negotiation processes in reconciling national and global values. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 12 university students (6 male and 6 female) aged 19–23 years from various academic disciplines at three public universities in Indonesia, and analyzed systematically to identify core experiential themes. Findings demonstrated that students critically select, interpret, and integrate global content, reshaping rather than weakening their national identity. This study enriches the understanding of national identity formation processes, highlighting the importance of subjective experiences in informing future citizenship education strategies and policy developments.
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