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Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Education
Notes
- Abstract:
- Purpose : The objective of this phenomenological study was to expand the knowledge base regarding academic self-efficacy as it relates to nontraditional Latina undergraduates enrolled in an adult education program. The researcher chose to focus specifically on nontraditional Latina students because, as a group, there is limited research on this segment of the population. This dearth of research has led to a lack of knowledge and understanding of these students’ needs and concerns. Method : This qualitative research study examined the undergraduate experiences of 10 Latinas, ages 25-55, to determine what factors might have impacted their access, persistence, and success, giving them a voice to address their experiences, including how identity, history, family, culture, values, and lived experience have influenced their learning and constructions. The study was conducted electronically using Survey Monkey™ to collect responses to open-ended questions. Major Findings : Findings suggest the importance of earning the degree they were pursuing and those factors which influenced their decision to return to college; within this context the participants reflected on their classroom experiences, and self-efficacy beliefs toward program completion. Participants’ stories also revealed anecdotes about parents, children, and work. Two additional clusters of meanings emerged from their stories. The first revolved around topics of race, ethnicity, discrimination, representation, and immigration, while the second cluster pertained to their volunteerism, engagement, and altruism. The narratives of the 10 Latina undergraduates in this study added a new detail to the profile of the nontraditional student. The ability to view Latinas as a separate research group, apart from the category of women and Latinos, widens and sharpens the research lens by allowing the researcher to address issues of race and gender simultaneously. Data for this study served to provide a detailed appraisal of Latina nontraditional students and reaffirm the need to create awareness in the higher education terrain, evaluate adult education practice, and support the call for action to rectify social injustices and inequities in the educational system. This study underscored the need to accept multiple realities as well as celebrate differences in the quest to make higher education accessible to all who search for a better tomorrow.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (Ph.D.)--Barry University, 2008.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-206).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Sandra Lee Roberts. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- LC2669.R63 2008_RobertsSandra ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- LC2669.R63 2008 ( lcc )
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