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Jumping Into The Abyss:Life After The Doctorate, Felice D. Billups

Higher Education

This multi-phase phenomenological study explored doctoral graduates‟ perceptions of self, identity and adjustment in the post-dissertation phase, using Neugarten‟s (1978) Adult Development Theory and Lachman‟s (2004) Midlife Development Theory to frame the findings. This third and final phase probed doctoral degree graduates‟ personal reflections and „crossroad‟ stories to highlight the commonalities of this adjustment phase for all participants. While considerable research has been conducted on currently enrolled doctoral students, it has focused predominantly on Ph.D. graduates (Baird, 1997; D‟Andrea, 2002; Di Pierro, 2007). Minimal research, however, has been conducted on Ed.D. graduates, already actively engaged as working professionals, where the …

Analyzing The Relationship Of Voluntary Student Participation In Optional Exam Review Sessions With Academic Self-Efficacy And Academic Performance, Christine Stamm Griffin, Robert K. Gable

Higher Education

Much research has been conducted on the topic of self-efficacy and its relationship to student performance. In alignment with the theory of self-efficacy and research performed by Bandura (1993), Schunk (1989, 1991), Zimmerman (1985, 1990), Multon, Brown and Lent (1991); and others, the purpose of this action research study was to determine the relationship of student voluntary attendance at a minimum of one of two optional exam review sessions and whether or not it resulted in a feeling of increased confidence about their potential performance on the exam compared to those students who did not attend the review. Additionally, the …

The Privilege And The Challenge: Storytelling And The Doctoral Experience, Felice D. Billups

Higher Education

Paper presented at the 45th annual meeting of the New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO), April 17-19, 2013, Portsmouth, NH.

Collegiate Administrator Perceptions Of Organizational Culture: An Analysis Of Metaphors, Felice D. Billups, Ed.D.

Higher Education

This study sought to characterize college and university administrator perceptions of organizational culture, their perceptions of themselves versus other campus subcultures, and their perceptions of themselves as members of their campus communities, through an analysis of their use of metaphors. Primary research objectives included the identification of administrator perceptions of the dominant campus culture, their perceptions of related subcultures, their perceptions of group self-consciousness, and the characterization of administrators as a legitimate collegiate subculture. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design, utilizing metaphor analysis as the framework for individual interviews. The very nature of the problem (i.e. asking administrators to …

Exploring Organizational Culture Through Metaphor Analysis, Felice D. Billups

Higher Education

How would you describe your campus culture or your school environment? Would you carefully outline the details of the working conditions, the way people interact in meetings, or the unique communication style of your organization? Or would you rather use a descriptive phrase, or even a metaphor, to summarily reveal your organization’s culture? Metaphor analysis, as a means to uncover organizational culture, is an increasingly popular strategy for qualitative researchers. In interpretative qualitative studies, metaphors comprise a form of linguistic analysis which assists researchers who are interested in an intensive but short-term evaluation of organizational culture (Patton, 2002; Schmitt, 2005). …

Diversity Education And Student Perceptions Of Campus Climate, Bethany Zemba, Felice D. Billups

Higher Education

The term diversity refers to demographic variables such as race, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age, education, and geographic origin (Rynes & Rosen, 2006). Diversity can also include work group affiliation, life-style, career history, and cognitive style (Pendry, Driscoll, & Field, 2007). The demographic diversity found in the United States population can provide opportunities to embrace new customs and expand traditional roles. However, it may also create challenges as people struggle to find common ground in communities composed of individuals and groups with varied backgrounds and values (Rodriguez, 1998; Trauth, Johnson, Morgan, Huang, & Quesenberry, 2007).

Rapidly changing …

The Relationship Of Self-Efficacy With Gpa, Attendance, And College Student Retention, Stephen P. Becker, Robert K. Gable

Higher Education

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy or belief in one’s capability (Bandura 1977b, 1986, 1993, 1997) and first-term GPA, attendance, and retention using a modified version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) (Schwarzer, 1992, 1993, 2005; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1993).

The study “College” is part of one of the world’s largest for-profit career education organizations. At the College, 100% of the students commute to classes and live in the metropolitan area. A large percentage of students live in difficult urban neighborhoods and grow up with low family income, abuse, gang violence, drugs, health problems, …

Self-Efficacy And Post-Secondary First-Term Student Achievement, Stephen P. Becker, Robert K. Gable

Higher Education

Generalized self-efficacy is the overall belief in one’s ability and Specific self-efficacy is task related. The study examined the extent and manner in which self-efficacy explains variation in first-term GPA. The General Self-Efficacy Scale was adapted and used with a sample of N = 194 students (34% male and 66% female) enrolled in a for-profit career education urban college. The data from two factors derived using an exploratory factor analysis, General self-efficacy and Specific self-efficacy, had alpha reliabilities of .73 and .75, respectively. General self-efficacy was correlated r = .18 with GPA and multiple regression analysis demonstrated that General incremented …

Anxiety And Depression As Comorbid Factors In Drinking Behaviors Of Undergraduate College Students Attending An Urban Private University In The Northeastern United States, Charles J. Vohs, Robert K. Gable, Cynthia V.L. Ward, Ronald L. Martel, Joseph Barresi, Dameian Slocumb

Higher Education

High-risk drinking is the number one public health concern on college campuses (Berkowitz, 2003; Kapner, 2003; Wechsler, 2002). To date, high-risk drinking prevention programs have met with limited success (Kapner, 2003).

This study examined differences among four drinking behavior groups: non-drinkers [(ND), (n = 128)], low-risk drinkers [(LRD), (n = 252)], high-risk drinkers [(HRD), (n = 272)], and frequent high-risk drinkers [(FHRD), (n = 290)] with respect to anxiety and depression for male (n = 457) and female (n = 485) undergraduates (N = 942) attending an urban private university in the northeastern United States; and, the perceptions of two …