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Articles 2401 - 2430 of 2967

Full-Text Articles in Sociology

Protecting My Interests: Hrm And Target's Coping With Workplace Bullying, Premilla D'Cruz, Ernesto Noronha May 2010

Protecting My Interests: Hrm And Target's Coping With Workplace Bullying, Premilla D'Cruz, Ernesto Noronha

The Qualitative Report

Based on a study rooted in van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology, conducted with agents working in international facing call centers in Mumbai and Bangalore, India, this paper describes targets' coping with workplace bullying. Data were gathered through conversational interviews and were subject to sententious and selective thematic analyses. The core theme of "protecting my interests" displayed two prominent features: the presence of stages and the critical role of HRM in influencing multiple facets of the experience. Major themes, organized around these defining characteristics, include experiencing confusion, engaging organizational options, moving inwards and exiting the organization. The findings break new ground in …

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The Ground They Walk On: Photography And Narrative Inquiry, Diane Ketelle May 2010

The Ground They Walk On: Photography And Narrative Inquiry, Diane Ketelle

The Qualitative Report

In this project, the author explores a novel variation on an established social science research method, photo-elicitation. The author photographed eight school principals during a two-year period and asked the principals to respond to the photographs by writing narratives below each. The author uses photography, reflections, and her own memories to construct descriptive narrative snapshots of the eight principals. Further, the author argues that this approach underscores how photographs are both technically and socially constructed and through the use of photo-elicitation new ways of understanding self and others in relation can be explored.

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Teaching Experiences Of African American Educators In The Rural South, Ellene Polidore, Stacey L. Edmonson, John R. Slate May 2010

Teaching Experiences Of African American Educators In The Rural South, Ellene Polidore, Stacey L. Edmonson, John R. Slate

The Qualitative Report

A scarcity of research exists regarding the voices of African American teachers who taught in the rural South. In this study, we report the life experiences, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings of three female African American educators as they pertain to their experiences teaching before, during, and after desegregation. Three female African American educators who taught before, during, and after desegregation in the same school district in the rural South were interviewed extensively. Data analysis revealed themes that mirrored those themes found in resiliency research. By examining these resilience themes within the context of this study, a model of adult resilience …

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Legislative Decision Making On Education Issues: A Qualitative Study, Kathy Canfield-Davis, Sachin Jain May 2010

Legislative Decision Making On Education Issues: A Qualitative Study, Kathy Canfield-Davis, Sachin Jain

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this descriptive, single case study was to provide knowledge and insight about state education policy-making, specifically, the process by which education-related bills pass through a legislature. This study was also designed to identify factors of influence shaping legislative decision-making as perceived by lawmakers and observers of the legislative process. Sources of evidence included interviews, direct observation, archival records, public records documentation, and tape recordings of committee meetings and Senate floor sessions. Results show that a bill's fate is subject to many planned and unplanned sequential steps, and to a collection of diverse personalities that drive the legislative …

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Using Wordle As A Supplementary Research Tool, Carmel Mcnaught, Paul Lam May 2010

Using Wordle As A Supplementary Research Tool, Carmel Mcnaught, Paul Lam

The Qualitative Report

A word cloud is a special visualization of text in which the more frequently used words are effectively highlighted by occupying more prominence in the representation. We have used Wordle to produce word-cloud analyses of the spoken and written responses of informants in two research projects. The product demonstrates a fast and visually rich way to enable researchers to have some basic understanding of the data at hand. Word clouds can be a useful tool for preliminary analysis and for validation of previous findings. However, Wordle is an adjunct tool and we do not recommend that this method be used …

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Attributes Of Spirituality Described By Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Gregory P. Knapik, Donna S. Martsolf, Claire B. Draucker, Karen D. Strickland May 2010

Attributes Of Spirituality Described By Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Gregory P. Knapik, Donna S. Martsolf, Claire B. Draucker, Karen D. Strickland

The Qualitative Report

This study focuses on what aspects of attributes of spirituality as defined by Martsolf and Mickley (1998) are most salient for female and male survivors of sexual violence. Content analysis of secondary narrative data, provided by 50 participants in a study of women's and men's responses to sexual violence, was coded to the five attributes of spirituality as defined by Martsolf and Mickley. The attribute aspects of connecting with others in spiritual ways and with God/higher power were particularly significant. The attribute of transcendence was found less important, and the attributes of value, becoming, and meaning were not found important. …

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A Hockey Night In Canada: An Imagined Conversation Between Theorists, Curtis Fogel May 2010

A Hockey Night In Canada: An Imagined Conversation Between Theorists, Curtis Fogel

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, various methodological issues surrounding the sociological study of sport are explored. Through an imagined dialogue between two graduate students at a hockey game, this work brings together three divergent approaches to social enquiry: Positivist Grounded Theory, Constructivist Grounded Theory, and Actor-Network Theory. This paper challenges conventional writing on method in two ways: (a) assembling three divergent approaches within a single work, and (b) employing a scripted narrative as a means of exploring methodological issues. Through this innovative approach, many of the overlaps and tensions between these theories/methods are captured. In so doing, numerous methodological questions about the …

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Using Millie Thayer's Making Transnational Feminism To Connect Transnational Feminist Theories To Transnational Feminist Practices, Camille Sutton-Brown May 2010

Using Millie Thayer's Making Transnational Feminism To Connect Transnational Feminist Theories To Transnational Feminist Practices, Camille Sutton-Brown

The Qualitative Report

I review Millie Thayer's 2010 book, Making Transnational Feminism, from a methodological standpoint to discuss its ability to effectively connect transnational feminist theories with transnational activist practices. Transnational feminism is at once a theoretical and practical model, consisting of an intricate, yet complex, web of small entities that work with and for one another to address related concerns. Thayer illuminates the processes that are involved in creating and sustaining these transnational feminist networks in the attempt to deconstruct the complex social relations and power dynamics that operate within the current structures of globalization. I purport that Making Transnational Feminism is …

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A Guide To Conducting Ethnographic Research: A Review Of Ethnography: Step-By-Step (3rd Ed.) By David M. Fetterman, Maribel Del Rio-Roberts May 2010

A Guide To Conducting Ethnographic Research: A Review Of Ethnography: Step-By-Step (3rd Ed.) By David M. Fetterman, Maribel Del Rio-Roberts

The Qualitative Report

Ethnography: Step-by-Step (3rd ed.) is a book that introduces novice researchers to the practice of ethnographic research. It provides an overview of ethnography, a discussion of methods and techniques utilized in the field, a guide to the use of ethnographic equipment, and basic tenets of the process of analyzing data. In addition, it provides important strategies for writing up the results and a valuable discussion of ethics.

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Art As Inquiry: A Book Review Of Being With A/R/Tography, Nicole Manry Pourchier May 2010

Art As Inquiry: A Book Review Of Being With A/R/Tography, Nicole Manry Pourchier

The Qualitative Report

In this essay, the edited anthology, Being with A/r/tography (Springgay, Irwin, Leggo, & Gouzouasis, 2008) is reviewed in regard to its relevance to visual arts research. Art is presented as a method of inquiry as theory, dialogue, and a/r/tographic works are shared within a community of practicing arts-based researchers. This text offers insight into the possibilities of the arts as active and perceptive modes of inquiry.

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From "Clueless" To "Completed": A Review Of The Essential Guide To Doing Your Research Project, Angela Yehl May 2010

From "Clueless" To "Completed": A Review Of The Essential Guide To Doing Your Research Project, Angela Yehl

The Qualitative Report

O'Leary (2010) has written her book for the student; however, she delves beyond the "how to" of most introductory research texts. The author works to ground students in the theoretical and foundational aspects of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research, in addition to providing "real world" advice and common scenarios often encountered in the field. From determining an appropriate sample size to navigating political processes in evaluative research, O'Leary stays grounded in the practical, often re-emphasizing the importance of "doability" in planning and conducting any type of research.

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Creative Possibilities And Responsibilities: A Review Of Maria J. Mayan's Essentials Of Qualitative Inquiry, Jacquelyn Browne May 2010

Creative Possibilities And Responsibilities: A Review Of Maria J. Mayan's Essentials Of Qualitative Inquiry, Jacquelyn Browne

The Qualitative Report

In her book, Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry (2009), Maria J. Mayan has provided a highly readable text. Using examples, tables, charts, plus exercises at the end of each chapter, a student new to the field, or an instructor looking for a useful text will find a good companion in this book. In addition to her thorough teaching, Maria Mayan uses humor, humility, and transparency to convey her deep moral and philosophical commitment to scientific rigor, as well as a deep sensitivity to honoring the stories researchers strive to tell about the human condition.

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Qualitative Interview Design: A Practical Guide For Novice Investigators, Daniel W. Turner Iii May 2010

Qualitative Interview Design: A Practical Guide For Novice Investigators, Daniel W. Turner Iii

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative research design can be complicated depending upon the level of experience a researcher may have with a particular type of methodology. As researchers, many aspire to grow and expand their knowledge and experiences with qualitative design in order to better utilize diversified research paradigms for future investigations. One of the more popular areas of interest in qualitative research design is that of the interview protocol. Interviews provide in-depth information pertaining to participants' experiences and viewpoints of a particular topic. Often times, interviews are coupled with other forms of data collection in order to provide the researcher with a well-rounded …

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Conducting An Online Focus Group, Jeanine Stancanelli May 2010

Conducting An Online Focus Group, Jeanine Stancanelli

The Qualitative Report

Traditionally, focus groups have been conducted in person using the face-to-face format. However, improvements in technology have resulted in the emergence of the online focus groups. Online focus groups are an extension of traditional focus groups, which have been utilized in qualitative research for decades and, for the most part, the principles are consistent with traditional focus groups. Learning to conduct online focus groups requires the researcher to delve into the literature on traditional focus groups, as having a thorough understanding of traditional focus groups is paramount. After gaining a sufficient understanding of traditional focus groups, the researcher can explore …

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Collage Life Story Elicitation Technique: A Representational Technique For Scaffolding Autobiographical Memories, Gertina J. Van Schalkwyk May 2010

Collage Life Story Elicitation Technique: A Representational Technique For Scaffolding Autobiographical Memories, Gertina J. Van Schalkwyk

The Qualitative Report

A basic premise in narrative therapy and inquiry is that life story telling is a mechanism by which experiences are rendered meaningful within some form of structure. However, narrative inquiry has to take cognisance of difficulties ensuing from discursive practices for different populations when eliciting their life stories. In this article I explicate a unique method, the Collage Life story Elicitation Technique (CLET), geared towards scaffolding life story remembering. Based on the theoretical underpinnings of social constructionism (Gergen, 2000), symbolic interactionism (Berg, 2009) and performative strategies in social science research the CLET provides a mode of expression and narrative performance …

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Innovative Data Collection Strategies In Qualitative Research, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Nancy L. Leech, Kathleen M.T. Collins May 2010

Innovative Data Collection Strategies In Qualitative Research, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Nancy L. Leech, Kathleen M.T. Collins

The Qualitative Report

This article provides an innovative meta-framework comprising strategies designed to guide qualitative data collection in the 21st century. We present a meta-framework comprising strategies for collecting data from interviews, focus groups, observations, and documents/material culture. We present a template for collecting nonverbal data during interviews and discuss the concept of debriefing the interviewer. We identify types of data that can be collected in focus groups in addition to the actual statements made by the participants and provide templates for categorizing these data. Also, we outline the role that social networking websites can play in focus group interviews. Further, we provide …

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A Meta-Summary Of Qualitative Findings About Professional Services For Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Donna S. Martsolf, Claire B. Draucker, Christina B. Cook, Ratchneewan Ross, Andrea Warner Stidham, Prudencia Mweemba May 2010

A Meta-Summary Of Qualitative Findings About Professional Services For Survivors Of Sexual Violence, Donna S. Martsolf, Claire B. Draucker, Christina B. Cook, Ratchneewan Ross, Andrea Warner Stidham, Prudencia Mweemba

The Qualitative Report

Sexual violence occurs at alarming rates in children and adults. Survivors experience myriad negative health outcomes and legal problems, which place them in need of professional services. A meta-summary was conducted of 31 published qualitative studies on adults' responses to sexual violence, with a focus on survivors' use of professional services. Combined samples included 46 men, 984 women, and six couples who had experienced sexual violence at any point in their lives. Findings indicated that qualities of professional service providers and outcomes of professional services were perceived either positively or negatively (rather than neutrally) by survivors, regardless of the provider's …

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Review Of Three Qualitative Studies Of Family Presence During Resuscitation, Bonnie Schmidt May 2010

Review Of Three Qualitative Studies Of Family Presence During Resuscitation, Bonnie Schmidt

The Qualitative Report

Despite recommendations to allow family presence during resuscitation, mixed attitudes and practices persist in clinical practice today. The findings of three recent qualitative research studies are presented in this review. These phenomenological studies explore the lived experience of family presence from different perspectives. Miller and Stiles (2009) describe the experiences of hospital nurses, Maxton (2008) focuses on parental perceptions, and Mcmahon-Parkes, Moule, Benger, and Albarran (2009) study the attitudes and beliefs of patients themselves. This article presents an analysis of these study findings and overall conclusions related to family presence during resuscitation.

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A Qualitative Study Of Providers' Perception Of Adherence Of Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Puerto Rico, Marta Rivero-Méndez, Carol S. Dawson-Rose, Solymar S. Solís-Báez Mar 2010

A Qualitative Study Of Providers' Perception Of Adherence Of Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Puerto Rico, Marta Rivero-Méndez, Carol S. Dawson-Rose, Solymar S. Solís-Báez

The Qualitative Report

This study examines healthcare providers' perceptions regarding experiences and factors that contribute to adherent and non-adherent behaviors to HIV treatment among women living with HIV infection in Puerto Rico and describes strategies implemented to improve adherence. Providers' accounts revealed that women with HIV infection are living "beyond their strengths" attempting to reconcile the burden of the illness and keep adherent. Factors putting women beyond their strengths and influencing non-adherence behavior were: gender-related demands, fear of disclosure, and treatment complexity. Strategies to improve adherence included: ongoing assessment, education, collaborative work, support groups, networking, disguising pills, readiness, and seeking medications outside their …

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Computer Aided Phenomenography: The Role Of Leximancer Computer Software In Phenomenographic Investigation, Sorrek Penn-Edwards Mar 2010

Computer Aided Phenomenography: The Role Of Leximancer Computer Software In Phenomenographic Investigation, Sorrek Penn-Edwards

The Qualitative Report

The qualitative research methodology of phenomenography has traditionally required a manual sorting and analysis of interview data. In this paper I explore a potential means of streamlining this procedure by considering a computer aided process not previously reported upon. Two methods of lexicological analysis, manual and automatic, were examined from a phenomenographical perspective and compared. It was found that the computer aided process - Leximancer - was a valid investigative tool for use in phenomenography. Using Leximancer was more efficacious than manual operation; the researcher was able to deal with large amounts of data without bias, identify a broader span …

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Flirtation Rejection Strategies: Toward An Understanding Of Communicative Disinterest In Flirting, Alan K. Goodboy, Maria Brann Mar 2010

Flirtation Rejection Strategies: Toward An Understanding Of Communicative Disinterest In Flirting, Alan K. Goodboy, Maria Brann

The Qualitative Report

Single adults often seek successful flirtatious encounters; yet these encounters can sometimes be considered failures. However, little research has identified flirtation rejection strategies enacted by those not interested in reciprocal flirting. The purpose of this study was to examine behavioral and verbal flirtation rejection strategies among college students. Stemming from a grounded theory methodology and a focus group method, 21 college students shared their experiences in focus group discussions. Thematic analysis yielded five behavioral rejection strategies (i.e., departure, friendship networks, cell-phone usage, ignoring, facial expressions) and four verbal rejection strategies (i.e., significant others, brief responses, politeness, insults) and sex differences …

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Don't Tease Me, I'M Working: Examining Humor In A Midwestern Organization Using Ethnography Of Communication, Ajay K. Ojha, Taimmy L. Holmes Mar 2010

Don't Tease Me, I'M Working: Examining Humor In A Midwestern Organization Using Ethnography Of Communication, Ajay K. Ojha, Taimmy L. Holmes

The Qualitative Report

Within organizations, the communicative phenomenon of humor is commonplace. Humorous talk is just as important and frequent to regular discourse that takes place between organizational members. In this inquiry we examine humor as a particular way of communicating between members of a small Midwestern United States organization. Specifically, we examine how three functions of humor (i.e., joking, sarcasm, and teasing) are used amongst members during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Using ethnography of communication, we conduct both fieldwork and interviews discovering that this organization exemplifies humor as a socially constructed phenomenon to complete the typical workday.

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Patient And Physician Perceptions Of Dimensions Of Necessity Of Medical Utilization, Peggy J. Wagner, Peter R. Warren, Ginger Mosely Mar 2010

Patient And Physician Perceptions Of Dimensions Of Necessity Of Medical Utilization, Peggy J. Wagner, Peter R. Warren, Ginger Mosely

The Qualitative Report

The goal of this research was to understand better the perspectives held by physicians and patients regarding what factors determine the appropriateness of medical visits. We also wished to create a convenient measure of those perspectives. In our first study, we conducted focus groups separately composed of 22 physicians and 16 patients to determine their respective views. In our second study, a 40-item measure derived from Study 1 themes was administered to a sample of 202 patients. Study 1 identified 20 themes, collapsing into 6 dimensions. Physicians held views that some patients were manipulative when seeking medical care. Study 2 …

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Master's Students' Challenges, Achievements, And Professional Development, Janet C. Richards Mar 2010

Master's Students' Challenges, Achievements, And Professional Development, Janet C. Richards

The Qualitative Report

Few inquiries have investigated master's students in education as they mentor preservice teachers. In this embedded case study I explored the professional development of 15 master's students as they mentored 35 preservice teachers for eight weeks in a summer literacy camp. Data sources were e-mail exchanges, written reports, and transcriptions from focus groups and in-class conversations. I analyzed the data through constant comparison methods and discovered that the mentors were initially frustrated with their mentoring responsibilities and had little empathy for the preservice teachers. By the end of the camp, they recognized the benefits of mentoring and gained confidence as …

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Sailing Stormy Seas: The Illness Experience Of Persons With Parkinson's Disease, Melinda Stanley-Hermanns, Joan Engebretson Mar 2010

Sailing Stormy Seas: The Illness Experience Of Persons With Parkinson's Disease, Melinda Stanley-Hermanns, Joan Engebretson

The Qualitative Report

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder with no known cause or promising cure. While substantial information is known about the pathophysiology, little is known about the illness experience of living with the disease. A qualitative study using an ethnographic approach was conducted to provide a rich understanding of the illness experience. The illness experience was apprehended through field work in two support groups and the personal accounts of 14 participants with Parkinson's disease. The metaphor, "Sailing the Sea in The Eye of the Storm," is the overarching theme and was chosen to conceptualize the voyage of persons living with …

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Recommendations For Using The Case Study Method In International Business Research, Tiia Vissak Mar 2010

Recommendations For Using The Case Study Method In International Business Research, Tiia Vissak

The Qualitative Report

The case study method has not been as frequently used in international business (IB) research as quantitative methods. Moreover, it has been sometimes misused and quite often criticized. Still, it can be very useful for understanding such complex phenomena as the internationalization process or the management of multinational enterprises. Based on case study methodology literature and the author's personal experience from conducting case studies and reviewing case study articles, this paper proposes some ways for overcoming some of the critiques of the case study method and increasing its contribution to IB research.

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On Doctoral Student Development: Exploring Faculty Mentoring In The Shaping Of African American Doctoral Student Success, Pamela Felder Mar 2010

On Doctoral Student Development: Exploring Faculty Mentoring In The Shaping Of African American Doctoral Student Success, Pamela Felder

The Qualitative Report

This study examines the influence of faculty mentorship in the shaping of African American doctoral student success. A case analysis framework is used to investigate the belief systems that doctoral students held about their doctoral experience. Data collection involved a one-phase semi-structured interview protocol used to gather information about these experiences from a post-degree perspective. African American doctoral degree completion is addressed as a critical function of student success within an elite educational context. Results of the study demonstrate that the African American doctoral degree completion is complicated by students' perceptions of faculty advising, faculty behavior and the lack of …

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Criminal Careers And Cognitive Scripts: An Investigation Into Criminal Versatility, Helen Gavin, David Hockey Mar 2010

Criminal Careers And Cognitive Scripts: An Investigation Into Criminal Versatility, Helen Gavin, David Hockey

The Qualitative Report

"Criminal careers" denotes ways in which offenders develop specialisms and versatility, but studies linking delinquency to social skills deficits have not attempted to explore cognitive, internalised processes by which such "careers" might be chosen. This study investigated criminal minds via script theory: "internal" scripts are used to guide behaviour, "situational" scripts are knowledge of everyday events, and "personal" scripts are a sequence of actions towards a desired goal. This research investigated whether criminal career offenders develop situational scripts for offending and whether such situational scripts express an internalised identity, which manifests as a personal script. Thematic analysis of data derived …

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Voices Of Native Resiliency: Educational Experiences From The 1950s And 1960s, Jennifer Penland Mar 2010

Voices Of Native Resiliency: Educational Experiences From The 1950s And 1960s, Jennifer Penland

The Qualitative Report

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived educational experiences of American Indians who grew up during the 1950s and 1960s, known as the termination period in American history. The research for this phenomenological study consisted of interviews with eight participants who were willing to share their personal experiences from this selected time. Ten reoccurring themes were uncovered: chaos brings balance, challenge to become bi-cultural, the importance of teachers, external support systems, spirituality, tribal influences, influences of economic resources, cultural awareness and value, relevant curriculum, and recruitment of Native teachers. By uncovering these stories, it is hopeful that …

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Accommodation Strategies Of College Students With Disabilities, Lucy Barnar-Brak, Deann Lectenberger, William Y. Lan Mar 2010

Accommodation Strategies Of College Students With Disabilities, Lucy Barnar-Brak, Deann Lectenberger, William Y. Lan

The Qualitative Report

College students with disabilities develop and utilize strategies to facilitate their learning experiences due to their unique academic needs. Using a semi-structured interview technique to collect data and a technique based in grounded theory to analyze this data, the purpose of this study was to discern the meaning of disclosure for college students with disabilities in relation to the strategies they invoke while seeking accommodations. The study revealed three underlying themes common to the accommodation-seeking strategies of the participants who were academically successful college students with disabilities. These themes include: scripting disclosure of one's disability; negotiating accommodations with faculty; and …

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