Higher Education Commons^™

Examining Social Factors Influencing Latino Students' Academic Learning In Rio Grande Valley Via A Quantitative Design, David T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This research study aimed to examine the social factors that could influence the academic learning experiences of Latino college students. Hispanic students are pursuing post-secondary degrees at a higher rate than in previous years. Many Hispanics represent their respective family members as the first members of their respective families to attend college (Trevino & DeFreitas, 2014). The academic achievement of Latino college students is becoming a major concern in the United States due to their growing population and special needs (Trevino & DeFreitas, 2014).

It is imperative to examine the social factors that could affect the academic learning experiences of …

Strategies Community College Mexican American Adult College Algebra Students Use When Graphing Function Transformations, Roxana Pamela Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study pursued to describe the different strategies Mexican American adult students in a local community college used to graph function transformations. Participants in the study were purposefully selected using a criterion sampling to ensure participants were atypical, above average students between the ages 18-22, and had a final course average of 89.5-100 in College Algebra. Three research questions were examined 1) In what ways do Mexican American adult college students graph a function transformation? 2) Which strategies do students implement when graphing a function transformation? Qualitative research methods using think aloud semi-structured interviews were used in this …

Examining The Increasing Prevalence Of Academic Dishonesty: An Investigation Of Students’ Perceptions Of Academic Integrity In Higher Education, Luis Angel Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

A primary concern in academic institutions is the high frequency of academic dishonesty among students. Concerns surrounding this issue negatively affect the institution’s reputation and the acquisition of external funding. The purpose of this research was to explore the increasing prevalence of academic dishonesty at higher education institutions. Furthermore, the aim of the study is to investigate the frequency of students engaging in academic dishonesty, reasons for academic dishonesty, and awareness of academic dishonesty. Increasing awareness, prevention, and education regarding academic dishonesty can bring a positive environment to students in higher education. The participants were students enrolled in The University …

Breaking Bridges: A Latina's Role In Familismo And Higher Education, Desiree Trejo

Theses and Dissertations

This research and collective experiences have been recorded to bring together an autoethnography that demonstrates my personal experiences of being the eldest daughter in a Latino family and how these experiences situate within a social context. The primary purpose of this autoethnography is to provide insight on Latino culture expectations placed upon first born daughters. My own experiences connect to my research covering Latino culture and gender expectations to further understand social meanings and understandings of this culture. This autoethnography presents qualitive research that allows me to self-reflect and apply these findings to my personal experiences within my family to …

Academic & Cultural Perceptions And Experiences Of International Students At A Hispanic Serving Institution Of Higher Education, Samantha Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

International student enrollment in U.S. higher education institutions is steadily increasing. In 2018/2019, more than one million international students were pursuing their higher education in the U.S.

This study aims to discover and learn more about the academic and cultural perceptions, as well as on-campus experiences of the international students in relation to their campus life, academics, and student services at a Hispanic Serving Institution of higher education in South Texas.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis to describe the philosophical assumptions and inquiry method. The quantitative research was designed as an online survey, which included several areas of student interest in …

The Underrepresentation Of African American Doctoral Students In College Of Education Disciplines At Hispanic Serving Institutions And Emerging Hispanic Serving Institutions In The Southwest United States (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada And Colorado), Matthew Lloyd Atterberry

Theses and Dissertations

African Americans are underrepresented in higher education, especially in the graduate and doctoral level. Furthermore, research has identified numerous factors influencing African Americans to pursue doctoral studies in College of Education disciplines at postsecondary institutions of higher learning. However, there is a gap in the literature pertaining to factors influencing African Americans to pursue graduate and/or doctoral studies in College of Education disciplines at Hispanic Serving Institutions and Emerging Hispanic Institutions of higher learning in the Southwest United States. The purpose of this study is to bridge the gap pertaining to demographic factors in relationship to motivation and self-efficacy (Confidence) …

Teachers' Perceptions And Practices On Using Educational Technology As An Instructional Tool In The Classroom, Amanda Lee Resendez

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the rapid expansion of educational technologies in primary schools, recent research has shown that many teachers are not taking full advantage of these new tools. This study was designed to address the problem of the lack of effective technology integration in the classroom, particularly in grades third thru fifth at two school districts in the Rio Grande Valley. The purpose of this study was to examine primary teachers' perceptions of implementing technology in the classroom. Framed by Koehler and Mishra's technological pedagogical content knowledge model (TPACK), the study was guided by research questions that involved teachers' perceptions of the …

Testing Acceptance Of Language Difference In Academia: Perceptions In A First-Year Composition Classroom, Crystal Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

In response to Bawarshi’s collective call for educators to be “more responsive and responsible users and teachers of English,” and motivated by the research of Michelle Hall Kells, I argue that it is necessary for educators to introduce first-year writing students to the historical and sociopolitical aspects of language use in academia through implementing lessons that focus on facets of language diversity. After describing a lesson plan focused on language diversity, I then analyze student feedback using Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis as a lens. I also discuss the results of a Likert scale implemented during the three-phase study. Student …

Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom Model In Anatomy And Physiology Laboratory Courses At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Gerardo Sanchez

Theses and Dissertations

A flipped laboratory model involves significant preparation by the students on lab material prior to entry to the laboratory. This allows laboratory time to be focused on active learning through experiments. The aim of this study was to observe changes in student performance through the transition from a traditional laboratory format, to a flipped format. The data showed that for both Anatomy and Physiology (I and II) laboratories a more normal distribution of grades was observed once labs were flipped and lecture grade averages increased. Chi square and analysis of variance tests showed grade changes to a statistically significant degree, …

A Study On Hispanic College Students' Mathematics Anxiety, Study Habits, And Academic Performances On Mathematics, Luis M. Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Mathematics anxiety has been described as a feeling of apprehension, fear, tension, and discomfort when confronted with mathematics. Mathematics anxiety has also been shown to interfere with mathematics performance; therefore, for our research we investigated what portions of individuals seem to suffer higher levels of mathematics anxiety and to what extent they are affected by it. We also investigated the study habits of the students and how these affect their mathematics anxiety levels and overall mathematics performance. Our data was obtained from Hispanic undergraduate students (n=405) who took Elementary Algebra (Math 1300), Intermediate Algebra (Math 1334), College Algebra (Math 1340) …

The Relationship Between Social Presence, Student Satisfaction And Academic Achievement In Fully Online Asynchronous Courses, Martin Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between social presence and student success as measured by student satisfaction and academic achievement in fully online asynchronous courses. A correlational research design was utilized to study the relationship between social presence, student satisfaction, and academic achievement. The participants in this study are a convenience sample of 104 undergraduate level students enrolled in fully online asynchronous courses at The University of Texas at Brownsville from August to December 2014. The data for the participants’ perception of social presence and student satisfaction were elicited through two …

Prediction Of Time-To-Graduation For Stem Hispanic Undergraduate Students, Gejun Zhu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In this thesis, we study the time-to-graduation problem for STEM Hispanic undergraduate students. The response, time-to-graduation, was treated in two different ways: as a binary variable with graduated (by the 6th year) and not-graduated values, and as an ordinal variable with values year-4, year-5, year-6, and not-graduate. Mathematics education plays critical role in students’ timely graduation, especially for STEM students. We used students records data obtained from The University of Texas-Pan American to illustrate how mathematics background factors (including SAT math score, ACT math score, TASP math score) and mathematics performance variables (including mathematics GPA, number of dropped mathematics courses, …

Role-Identity Prominence Of The 'Migrant' Role-Identity In Migrant College Students, Raul Garza

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The manner by which persons act upon, shape, and change social structure are central areas of study in sociological social psychology. Modification of social structure may be accomplished by persons creatively reacting to social roles. Through processes of legitimation, persons are provided various rewards and these, in turn, establish and hierarchically order a combination of role-identities collectively comprising the self. This ordering of role-identities, termed role-identity prominence, potentially impacts choices for alternative courses of action. This research empirically measures role-identity prominence of college students who have conducted agricultural migrant work. It empirically assesses the level of prominence for the migrant …

Constructing A Professional Identity: Non-Native Speakers As Teachers In College Freshman Composition Classes In An American University, Marcela Hebbard

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study is a qualitative, quantitative investigation of how non-native speakers of English construct a professional identity as teachers of English composition and rhetoric in freshman classes in an American University and how their students perceived such identity. A sample of 4 participants teaching ENG 1301 Rhetoric and Composition classes were recruited. Data were gathered through personal interviews, questionnaires, class observations, and students' anonymous survey at the end of their course to measure course satisfaction and their perception of their non-native speaker instructors. The investigation revealed that in order to develop a Professional Teacher Identity, non-native speakers of English need …

A Study Of Limited English Proficient Students' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Research-Based Best Practices In Developmental Education Reading Courses At The University Of Texas-Pan American, Mauricio Eugenio De Leon

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of this study is to assess the research-based best practices instructors at The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) implement in their developmental education reading courses, and if these practices effectively address our Mexican, Mexican-American, and Hispanic Limited English Proficient (LEP) population. The data I collected and analyzed for this study consisted of qualitative and quantitative self-evaluation and self- identity questionnaire feedback from students enrolled in developmental education reading courses focusing primarily on the students who are Mexican, Mexican-American, or Hispanic and LEP for the purpose of measuring these students’ perceptions of the teaching practices employed. In order to …

Self-Determination, Success, And College Readiness Of First Generation Students In A Higher Education Institution, Manuel Ochoa

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The purpose of the study was to describe and compare if self-determination factors differed in first and non-first generation college students and success levels. Additionally, comparisons of college readiness levels were measured, and finally a measure of factors that contribute to college success based in first and second semester grade point averages were investigated using multiple linear regression analysis. Using a Self-Determination Theory framework of human motivation, helps identify a basic psychological need for autonomy as a central feature for understanding effective regulation and well-being (Moller, Ryan, & Deci, 2006). The target population in this study was 1,586 returning students …

Improving Academic Writing Skills Among Undergraduates At A Hispanic Serving University In South Texas With Cooperative Learning, Scaffolded Instruction, And Formative Feedback, Lori Wells

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Three teaching strategies: scaffolded instruction, cooperative learning, and formative feedback were analyzed to determine their effectiveness in improving academic writing skills among undergraduates at a Hispanic serving university in south Texas. Hispanic youth in the United States are graduating from high school and college at significantly lower rates than students from all other ethnic backgrounds. This mixed methods study was conducted during the spring semester of 2011. Forty-six students from two education classes participated. Data from a pre and post test survey, writing samples, and interviews were analyzed. Positive gains were seen in all areas of academic writing, but larger …

Chemical Education Experiences From The English Language Learner Perspective, Annette Flores

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a region populated by Spanish-speaking immigrants and their descendants producing a large English Language Learner (ELL) student population. ELLs have historically had low literacy rates and achievement levels when compared to their counterparts. In order to address this achievement gap, previous research efforts and curriculum interventions have focused on language acquisition as being the determining factor in ELL education, with little attention given to academic content acquisition. More current research efforts have transitioned into English language acquisition through academic content instruction; this present research study specifically focuses on ELL experiences in chemistry. Participants were …

Development And Implementation Of Challenge-Based Instruction In Engineering Graphics, Gregory A. Potter

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This thesis discusses the challenge-based instructional (CBI) lessons currently being developed for the Engineering Graphics course at UTPA. This endeavor concentrates on student retention, as well as the students’ ability to practically apply their new skills. Minority science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students have been found, in recent studies, to depart from STEM undergraduate fields to some extent because of the lack of real world connections to the subject matter. Also, the traditional way of teaching theory first and then assigning a task may actually stifle creative thought and innovation required in later STEM courses. Our use of CBI …

Mexican American Persistence At A Hispanic-Serving Institution: Lessons And Anomalies In A 10-Year University Cohort, Alfredo Salinas

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Higher education continues to be the most viable avenue for improvement in the lives of racial minorities. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has called for an increase in the number of Hispanics in higher education institutions in the state of Texas. Although there is a substantial amount of literature in higher education, only a limited amount pertains to special populations. This is even more pronounced for literature that investigates persistence. This study will contribute to the analysis of such factors that can be targeted to improve the college persistence and completion rate of Hispanics. The institution where this study …

A Study Of Factors On The Performance Of The Texas Academic Skills Program Test, Billy B. Watkins

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

At least thirty percent of students who enter Texas public higher education each year have basic skills deficiencies and cannot perform effectively in college. The TASP Test was developed to identify these students. Moreover, this test must be passed in order to obtain a degree from a Texas public institution.

A survey of 150 entering freshmen from the University of Texas-Pan American was examined to identify variables that influence student performance on the TASP Test.

Chi-square tests uncovered academic, socioeconomic, and institutional bivariate relationships with TASP performance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that academic variables primarily predicted TASP performance.

A Content Validity Analysis Of The University Of Texas-Pan American English 1320 Grammar And Usage Exam, Cynthia Eilene Elder

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study examines the degree of content validity of the grammar and usage exam administered to The University of Texas-Pan American's developmental writing classes (English 1320). Final exam essays from the freshman composition course (English 1301) were divided into groups according to their scores and examined for the occurrence of adjective agreement, apostrophe, pronoun usage, punctuation of clause, sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, and tense usage errors, which are tested on the exam. An Analysis of Variance was then calculated for each error type; none of the error types proved statistically significant at the.05 level. The students within each group did …