Traversing a strange land: voices of successful first-generation college students
Date
2012
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Abstract
Beginning in the mid-l 970s and growing steadily decade by decade to today, there has been a concern with first-generation college students who enter college but fail to graduate in numbers commensurate with peers who are not first-generation college students. Much research has been conducted in the United States and Canada as to what makes these students unique and why these students drop out of college. Although attrition studies are plentiful, little research exists regarding first-generation students who do not drop out, but instead persist and graduate from college. This is a qualitative research study using exploratory multiple case study methodology, within a framework of social capital theory to investigate this important issue in a different way. The focus of this study is on first-generation college students who were successful in their journey through higher education and graduated within 6 years of entering directly from high school. The 60 research participants offer personal stories of their journeys through a variety of colleges and universities using thick, descriptive personal testimony reflective of their hopes, struggles, barriers, and eventual success within the cultures and systems of higher education. Themes found to be similar across cases are identified, they are assumed to be meaningful, and recommendations for Higher Educational Institutions (HEis) are presented based on the themes that emerged.
Keep right on to the end of the road. --Harry Laude
Description
Bibliography: p. 189-202
Includes copy of ethics approvals. Original copies with original Partial Copyright Licence.
Includes copy of ethics approvals. Original copies with original Partial Copyright Licence.
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Citation
Brigham, B. A. (2012). Traversing a strange land: voices of successful first-generation college students (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4803