The emotional journey of computer science students in team projects: the turbulences and the interplay between the academic emotions

Although there is a growing interest in understanding the emotions experienced by computer science students in educational settings, a significant gap persists in the current literature concerning the emotional dynamics and turbulences in long-term team projects. In this qualitative longitudinal study, we aimed to delve into the emotional experiences of 34 computer science students engaged in team projects. We used the experience sampling method and collected the data through online diaries after each team meeting. Through qualitative analysis of the diaries, we revealed the predominant emotions experienced by participants, the emotional turbulence encountered by team members, and the overall emotional trajectories of the teams. Our findings showed a dynamic emotional trajectory marked by turbulences in emotions such as excitement, frustration, stress, satisfaction, and pride: initial excitement often gave way to frustration and stress as teams navigated project complexities, yet this was mitigated by satisfaction and pride upon achieving milestones. Also, social emotions such as warmth, guilt, anger, and admiration emerged within the team dynamics. Our findings emphasize the significance of students’ emotional experiences in team projects.