Digital Commons Network^™

On The Outside Looking In: A Qualitative Study Of Southern Appalachian First-Generation Students' Perceptions Of Higher Education., Michael Steven Briggs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate Southern Appalachian, first-generation students' expectations of higher education. Research indicates that many first-generation students drop out of college after only 1 semester; however, little research exists concerning the expectations and experiences of first-generation college students from Southern Appalachia.

The study employs a qualitative methodology based in the tradition of grounded theory to highlight students' experiences while encouraging the emergence of data-driven theory based on what the researcher heard. Thus, the entire study is couched in the interpretivist philosophy of research.

Eleven full-time university students were interviewed for the study. They were asked to identify …

The Impact Of Protective Behavioral Strategies On The Relationship Between The Negative Consequences Of Alcohol Use And Anxiety Sensitivity, Jeanne Louise Lambrecht

Dissertations

Alcohol consumption among college students continues to be a concern on college campuses. It is estimated that a large majority (83%) of college students use alcohol (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman, & Schulenberg, 2008). The negative consequences of alcohol consumption range broadly in both domain and degree of harm to the individual and society. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) can be utilized to reduce the degree of negative consequences of alcohol consumption when people choose to drink. Many college students report that they drink to reduce anxiety they experience in social situations or to reduce the stress and anxiety they experience due to …

An Examination Of The Adjustment Of First Generation African American Male College Students, Adina Narcisse Green

Dissertations

Little is known about the college adjustment of first generation African American male students. The purpose of this study was to examine the college adjustment of this subgroup of students and create a profile of African American male college students as it relates to adjustment. In addition, research has found that students who do not integrate well into the college environment, both academically and socially, have a higher chance of incompletion. With African American males exhibiting the lowest retention and graduation rates among their gender and racial counterparts, investigating their levels of adjustment might aid in explaining their high rates …

Perceptions Related To Dietary Supplements Among College Students, Bethany Hope Brown

Masters Theses

Introduction: Prior research has shown that dietary supplement use is a common practice among college students. Most of these studies used surveys and questionnaires to provide an overview of supplement use in the U.S. However, in-depth information on college students’ perceptions and/or concerns related to dietary supplement use is lacking. The aim of this study was to capture a deeper understanding of how college students perceive dietary supplements.

Methods: A qualitative case study design was used, which allowed a greater understanding of the case through content analysis. The study used a secondary database, which consisted of web log (blog) posts …

The Four-Year Experience Of First-Generation Students At A Small Independent University : Engagement, Student Learning, And Satisfaction., David M. Mahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the four-year college experience of first-generation and continuing-generation students at a small private institution. Using Astin's I-E-O model (1970), the following variables in the student experience were considered: precollege student characteristics (input); engagement in academic experiences, cocurricular activities, campus relationships (environment); and satisfaction, learning (outcome). The sample consisted of seniors participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and/or a direct measure of general education learning, the ETS Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress. Results of the analysis of learning indicated no difference in first-generation and continuing-generation students' measures (n = 342). One exception was found …

Marketing Special Academic Events To College Professors And Students, Julie Johnson

Theses

The study examined the communication channels that professors, graduate students, and undergraduates use to learn and tell others about special academic events on college campuses, as well as individuals' motivations for attending academic events and mentioning them to others. Broad similarities emerged among the groups. Email announcement was the most common way to learn about academic events, and face-to-face communication was the most common means of telling others. Beyond the similarities, significant differences emerged. Overall, students showed more diversity in channels of communication for learning and sharing information about academic events, as well as in motivations for attending events and …

Gay Male Identity In The Context Of College: Implications For Development, Support, And Campus Climate, James M. Devita

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation includes three articles that explore the relationship between gay identity and the college environment. The college environment has been shown to affect students’ attitudes, beliefs, and personal development in various ways, including aspects of individuals’ identity and attitudes towards social and political issues in society. D’Augelli’s (1994) lesbian-gay-bisexual (LGB) identity development framework provides both a priori knowledge of issues associated with gay identity and a lens through which findings are analyzed in each of the articles included in this dissertation. The first article examines the relationship between first-year college students’ personal characteristics and their attitudes towards same-sex relationships. …

Using The Personality Assessment Inventory To Diagnose And Discriminate Between Major Depressive Disorder And Generalized Anxiety Disorder In A University Counseling Center, William Edward Nichelson Iii

Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) for diagnosing and discriminating between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) with university counseling center clients. Participants were 1541 male and female students who received services at a student counseling center at a large university. Participants were classified as MDD, GAD, or Other Diagnosis (OD) based on the diagnosis determined by the treating clinician, and PAI profiles were compared between the three groups.

The PAI Structural Summary-Revised contains Diagnostic Consider Clusters (DCC) that were designed to identify PAI scales/subscales that are typically elevated or suppressed when …

Identity Management Strategies Of Resident Assistants, Rachel Edwards

Masters Theses

The resident assistant (RA) position at higher education institutions is a position of great influence. RAs have the opportunity to impact many students’ lives through the various roles that they engage in as a RA. The most common roles that RAs are expected to perform include developing community, serving as a peer helper, being a friend to residents, and enforcing policy. The very nature of a multi-role position presents challenges for RAs in understanding how to effectively enact all of their roles.

This study aimed at developing an understanding of the ways in which RAs engage in identity management strategies …

Social Networking Privacy: A Qualitative Study Of The Risks And Effects Of Sharing Data To A Global Environment Via Facebook, Bryan L. Mack

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Young women have placed themselves at risk by disclosing private and sensitive data on their Facebook accounts. Privacy settings which can help prevent unauthorized access of this data exist, but some women choose to ignore them. This study is an attempt to gain an understanding of this phenomenon and answer the question of why young women choose to share personal information. Qualitative interviews of college students were conducted and the results interpreted in this paper. The results of this interview are intended to supply research for future studies which aim to minimize problems caused to individuals who choose to share …

The Impact Of Prior Sexual Victimization And Victim Identification On Threat Recognition In A College Sample, Katherine Porter

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research on sexual assault has demonstrated a pattern of revictimization, in which victims of childhood sexual assault are at an increased risk for adult sexual assault (e.g., Tjaden & Thoennes, 2000). Previous findings indicate that participants with a history of sexual assault take longer to identify and respond to risks (Marx et al., 2001; Soler-Baillo et al., 2005; Wilson et al., 1999), are less likely to respond in assertive ways (VanZile-Tamsen et al., 2005), and are more likely to indicate that they would be compliant in risky sexual situations (Naugle, 1999).

The present study attempted to replicate and expand …

Colleges Connect To Collect: The Atlanta Collegiate Food Drive (Capstone), Jessica L. Ekhomu

Public Health Theses

Hunger and food insecurity exist across millions of households in the US, and in even greater numbers in the state of Georgia. In fact, Georgia ranks fourth among the ten states with the highest food insecurity. Hunger and food insecurity have negative implications for the health and well being of children and adults. Such outcomes include fatigue, headaches, and frequent colds among children, and worsening chronic and acute diseases among adults. A non-governmental approach to addressing hunger and food insecurity includes food-banking. The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) collects, warehouses, and distributes 2 million pounds of food and other donated …

The Correlates Of Computer Use And Academic Achievement Among College Students From Low Income Backgrounds, George Darwin Banks Jr.

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The following is a mixed method research study that explores the correlates between computer use and academic achievement among low-income college students at James Madison University. A sample of 42 sophomore, junior and senior students served as participants in this study. All participants were members of the university’s Centennial Scholars Program, an initiative created by the university in 2004 to give high school students from low-income backgrounds the opportunity to go to college on full-tuition scholarship. Using a theoretical framework that incorporated situated cognition theory (Brown, Duguid & Collins, 1989), communities of practice (Wenger, 1998) and the digital divide (Attewell, …

Nonmedical Prescription Drug Use On College Campuses: Risk Factors For Abuse, Jennifer Barber

Theses and Dissertations

Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in prescription drug abuse, particularly among adolescents and young adults. While substance abuse on college campuses has remained a pervasive public health concern, rates of nonmedical prescription drug use surpass commonly abused drugs. The three most commonly abused prescription drugs (central nervous system (CNS) depressants, opioids, and stimulants) were assessed to identify differences among student characteristics, as well as their relationship with abuse. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to conduct a secondary analysis to explore demographic variables (race, gender, academic performance, living arrangement, alcohol and other drug usage, and …

Extending Our Understanding Of Social Belonging: College Students' Use Of Technology, Psychosocial Well-Being, And Sense Of Community In University Life, Sara Kathleen Henry Phd

Dissertations

Postsecondary education marks a transitional time in the lives of young adults. During this time, traditional-aged college students confront a substantial number of developmental challenges that are extraordinarily diverse and complex (Evans, Forney, & Guido-DiBrito, 1998). Erikson's (1968) theory of psychosocial development posited that the major developmental task of early adulthood is to establish close intimate relationships. The development of mature interpersonal relationships (Chickering & Reisser, 1993) is a critical priority if students are to successfully integrate into their social worlds and persist to graduation. Early theoretical models proposed by both Spady (1970) and Tinto (1975, 1993) linked institutional commitment …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis Of The Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (Pbss) Across Racial Groups, Sasha Joy Lambert

Dissertations

Alcohol consumption among college students, and the negative alcohol-related consequences that accompany that consumption, have been consistent concerns for colleges and the general public for several decades. Protective behavioral strategies are emerging in the literature as a potentially effective means of reducing harm to students; however, psychometrically sound measures for protective behavioral strategies are only in a development stage at this point. One such measure, the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale (PBSS), showed particular promise in this area, but previous research suffered from sample limitations, particularly very low sampling of students of color. In the current study, additional items were added …

Assessing Sleep Quality In Young Adult College Students, Aged 18 - 24 In Relation To Quality Of Life And Anthropometrics, Douglas Mathews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the impact of sleep on quality of life and anthropometrics in young adults. College students (n=218) were recruited through a variety of methods for a study on weight management for obesity prevention and randomized into control (n=108) or treatment (n=110) groups. Of those, 152 (71%) completed pre- and post-tests, including the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), scored 0-4 =normal and 5-21=disordered, (a=0.80), the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ), scored from 0-14=good quality of life to 15-36=poor quality of life, (ct=0.87), and anthropometrics. Statistical analyses included linear regression, one way ANOVA, chi-square analysis, and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation. Significance …

Turning Points: Stories Of How Students Get Beyond Antipathy Toward An Academic Course, Cheryl Lynn Morse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the narratives of 10 students who began an academic course with strong negative attitudes but finished the course with strong positive attitudes. In the beginning of the course, each student exhibited one of these three tendencies: apathetic, compliant, or disillusioned; however, by the end of the course, they exhibited a transformed disposition. This study attempts to answer the question of what the turning points were for their transformation and how they made the change. The findings of this study were that regardless of individual tendencies, the ability to exercise agency was …

Moving From A Textbook To Facebook College Students' Motivations For Using Social Networking Sites In Education, Heather J. Halter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined college student motivations for using social networking sites for educational purposes. Motives were examined through the uses and gratifications approach. If we can determine student motivations for using social networking sites, perhaps we can determine a way to successfully implement social networking sites into the classroom. By adding the concept of satisfaction, we can also determine if students will use the sites again. If students are satisfied with educational social networking site use, they will return to these sites for educational purposes again. Data was collected by giving a questionnaire to undergraduate students that assessed social networking …

Increasing Self Reported Argumentativeness In College Level Public Speaking Students, Kim E. Long

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Argumentativeness, or the predisposition “to advocate positions on controversial issues and to attack verbally the positions which other people take on these issues” (Infante & Rancer, 1982, p.72), has been associated with a number of positive outcomes. Research among student populations indicates that compared to people who are low in argumentativeness, people high in argumentativeness display higher ability to learn, higher self esteem, greater ability to creatively manage conflict, and higher ability to see both sides of a situation (Barden & Petty, 2008; McPherson Frantz & Seburn, 2003; Rancer, Whitecap, Kosberg, & Avtgis, 1997). Promoting argumentativeness among college students should …

Sexually-Related Internet Activities: Cross-National Comparison Between United States And Peruvian Young Adults, Rodrigo Velezmoro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current generation of college students commonly use the Internet for sexual purposes (Boies, 2002; Boies, Cooper, & Osborne, 2004), including finding sexual partners, searching for sex-related information, and viewing sexually explicit materials (SEM) (Boies, 2002). Yet, some authors have suggested that the use of the Internet for sexual purposes might lead to psychological problems (Cooper et al., 2001). However, it is unclear if the problems that are commonly reported (i.e., Internet dependency, isolation, and psychological distress) are caused by using the Internet for sexual purposes. Hence, it is important to examine how college students use the Internet for sexual …

Examining The Hypocrisy Paradigm As An Intervention For Modifying High-Risk Alcohol Use Behaviors Among College Students, Mary Hammons

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypocrisy paradigm as an experimental alcohol intervention to determine if participants who complete the hypocrisy paradigm will experience a significant reduction in the number of negative consequences associated with their alcohol use, quantity and frequency of alcohol use, and average and peak eBAC compared to college students in the control condition. Participants were 53 college students randomly assigned to an experimental hypocrisy paradigm intervention or a control condition. Contrary to prediction, the hypocrisy paradigm was not found to be significantly different than the control condition. Exploratory analyses examining within-group differences were …

An Examination Of State And Trait Anxiety Levels Among College Students Based On The Students' Alcohol Usage, Richard Kovalesky

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines anxiety and level of alcohol consumption among college freshman and sophomore student's to determine if state and trait anxiety are significant factors in high risk alcohol consumption or binge drinking. The State Trait Personality Inventory (STPI) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were administered to gather data on anxiety and alcohol consumption level. The investigation seeks to identify specific personality factors in college students' that impact high risk alcohol consumption and binge drinking in the undergraduate population. Specifically, state and trait anxiety are examined to determine their effect upon college freshmen and sophomores drinking practices. …

Student Perceptions Of The Integration Of Faith And Learning In A College Foreign Language Course, Patricia Tinkey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated how students perceive that the integration of faith occurs in the foreign language classroom. Research questions included:

1. What factors and conditions of faith-learning integration do students identify throughout the course? 2. How do these students define integration of faith and learning? 3. Is there consensus among students as to whether or not faith and learning is being integrated in the course? How did the integration of faith and learning impact the students?

The non-probability convenience sample included 77 Elementary Spanish students at a small Christian liberal arts college. Data collection consisted of focus group …

Evaluation Of An Expectnacy Challenge Curriculum In Reducing High Risk Alcohol Use Among College Students When Modified For Larg, Amy Schreiner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol consumption has repeatedly been recognized as the primary public health concern impacting students on college campuses. In response to the prevalence of risky alcohol use and lack of effective response among colleges and universities, the National Advisory Council of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism created a task force to review the relevant research literature on alcohol interventions to advise college administrators on effective program implementation and evaluation as well as provide recommendations for future research directions. Only three strategies met criteria for Tier 1 designation (empirical support specifically with college students) and two of these strategies …

Do The Stimulant Medications Improve Neuropsychological Performance Of College Students With Adhd?, Chunqiao Luo

LSU Master's Theses

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent disorder estimated to affect 5% to 10% of school-aged children and approximately 4% of adults worldwide. The defining symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, which are all acutely reduced by the stimulant medications, methylphenidate and amphetamine. Nevertheless, in spite of robust short-term efficacy, long-term follow-up studies fail to show drug effects on academic achievement of ADHD students. Because recent research indicates that the medications also do not normalize performance of ADHD patients on some neuropsychological tests, we thought this might shed some light on the causes of ADHD students’ academic underachievement. There is …

College Student Adjustment And Health Behaviors, Lisa Anne Hall

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between student adjustment theory and college student health behaviors. Specifically, this research examined first-year freshmen college student physical activity and nutrition behaviors and impact on adjustment to college (N = 37,564). The design for this study was a non-experimental ex post facto examination of archival data provided by the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment II survey, spanning academic years 2008 through 2009. The main variables in this study included student physical activity and nutrition behaviors. Baker and Siryk's student adjustment theory was used as a theoretical framework to identify survey questions related …

Comparing Racial Identity, Acculturative Stress, And Feelings Of Alienation In African-American College Attendees And Non-Attendees, Raymond Brock-Murray

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Cross-Cultural Study Of Learning Behaviors In The Classroom From A Thinking Style Perspective, Hongyu Cheng

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

Understanding College Students' Disconnections With Mathematics, Karen Jean Edwards

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study explores the disconnections introductory college mathematics students experience with mathematics. The experiences of six former mathematics students from their earliest memories forward to present day were explored. The study employed an interpretive case study and an action research methodology to present a detailed, historical record of the students' interactions and disconnections with learning quantitative material.