Running head: REVIEWS
Dissertation Reviews: Hawkins and Heap
Amanda Klein
Liberty University
Dissertation Reviews: Hawkins and Heap
Hawkins, S. K. (2011). Economically disadvantaged students: A case study of resilient qualities that encourage academic success. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.
Hawkins Dissertation Summary
Hawkins (2011) completed a dissertation on Economical Disadvantaged Students: A Case of Resilient Qualities that Encourage Academic Success. More specifically, the case study looked at students who were both economically disadvantaged (ED) and academically successful. The students were from the same Caucasian family in Tennessee. The case study examined both risk factors as
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The findings of the study also confirmed a previous study conducted by Werner (2005), which indicated three areas of protective factors contributing to a student’s success. These included factors within the person, family factors, and community factors.
Hawkins Dissertation Analysis According to Ary, Jacobs, Razavieh, and Sorensen (2006), the nature of any qualitative research study can pose limitations and ethical issues which need to be considered. Even with taking these considerations into mind, because the object of the research was a “concrete human experience,” the researcher recognized that the use of a qualitative method was “the most adequate means of knowledge production” (Brinkmann & Kvale, 2005, p. 162). Hawkins (2011), made every effort to ensure the information obtained for the study was not extremely personal to minimize potential ethical issues. Additionally, permission was obtained by the review board as well as from the participants before any information was collected. The stated focus, intent, purpose, and research questions are clearly defined by the author. The reader is able to clearly understand these aspects of the research. Additionally, the author clearly identifies the problem and research questions, and the rationale for the research being conducted. Likewise, the methodology section clearly presents the manner in which the research was conducted and why the specific method was chosen. As a result, a fellow researcher
This analysis should be presented in the form of a single essay, complete with a title page, an introduction, three body paragraphs (purpose, approach, and effectiveness), a conclusion, and a full References page.
A school setting provides opportunities where issues of social justice, oppression, and discrimination can be addressed. According to Bemak and Chung (2009), students of color and economically disadvantaged students are likely to have low academic achievement, in comparison to their White middle class counterparts. These disparities in academic
Research suggests that students of color and economically disadvantaged students are likely to have low academic achievement, in comparison to their White middle class counterparts. Studies show that these disparities are a result of environmental, historical, sociopolitical, sociocultural, and institutional factors, and not necessarily students’ capabilities (Bemak & Chung, 2008). These environmental, sociocultural and sociopolitical factors can result to depression, low self-esteem, and a lack of educational and career opportunities. Thus, counseling professionals in the school settings need to develop advocacy plans to cater for these environmental factors that are barriers to academic, career and personal development (Ratts & Hutchins,
Students from low-income and first generation backgrounds often struggle in different academic subjects. Subsequently, students have lower expectations for themselves when it comes to academic achievement. The majority of first generation students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Seeing that, families work countless hours in factories and other places where they are underpaid because of the lack of educational opportunity they experienced themselves. According to Blackwell and Pinder (2014) in the United States higher education is becoming the outlet to different avenues of opportunity whether it is through social mobility or economic progress. While screening out possible topics of interest for a research proposal, one of the challenges I encountered in my field experience was the lack of college access education and funding for the families in the urban high schools. The first generation student family typically is unaware of the college process because the student’s parents have not attended an institution of higher education. Therefore, the students cannot count on their knowledge of the process. Eventually, when students reach the financial aid process it becomes difficult because parents usually cannot afford full tuition expenses and at the same time do not understand the process. In these situations, schools with a college going culture can prepare staff to provide extra support to students by developing professional training in college access, mentorship
Poverty leads to insufficient opportunities, especially in college education. For instance, according to U.S. Department of Education, students who do not enter college or drop out of their classes are “predominantly persons from low-income families.” In support of this argument, the article states that “only 21 percent of those with family income of less than $25,000 were highly qualified for admission at a four-year institution” compared to the 56 percent of students with family income above $75,000. Therefore, students with bad economic conditions struggle with attending university even after entering it. The problem is that the African Americans race gets the harshest disadvantage from their poor economic conditions. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services publishes that almost 40 percent of African Americans under 18 are below the national poverty line, which is three-times higher than their white counterparts. This explicitly proves that unequal economic conditions are the main reason for inequality in education; African Americans are the most disadvantaged. Furthermore, the correlation between poor economic conditions and a lack of education among African Americans creates a chain of inequality. The poor economic backgrounds of African Americans obstruct their children from attending colleges and subsequently, the lack of higher education makes
Rendon (1994) points out “students from underrepresented backgrounds often experience isolation, a lack of self-efficacy, and a lack of a sense of belonging in college contexts”(p. 48). Furthermore, one needs to take it one step back and realize that most students of color are much more likely to attend schools where most of their peers are poor or low-income. Therefore, socio economic status (SES) determines the education a person receives throughout K-12. Walpole (2004) also describes how “low SES parents are more likely to define success as a secure full-time job after graduating from high school. College attendance is not an expectation and often means enrolling in a community college or technical school when it does occur” (p. 47). When a student reaches the
Produce a methodology for the chosen area of research, the approach taken and a précis of findings.
The objectives and scopes of the research are also defined. This chapter also describes the methodology to carry out and accomplish the objectives.
Identify the topic, and describe specific research related to the topic (describe the study, sample, findings, important points from the discussion in the research – describe any variables that may influence the findings of the research). Address any key issues such as political, social, legal, and/or ethical implications the
Poverty is on the rise all around the world especially across the United States. This is a problem that is affecting many aspects of life for both the victim and the people around them. Students living in poverty have to tolerate many unfortunate circumstances on a daily basis which can have a significant effect on their growth, development, and educational experience. Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds can still have the same success as the average student, but it takes a little extra effort and a leap of faith. Although it may be challenging for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve success in school and the real world, it is not impossible.
Qualitative research reflects different ways that researcher’s collect data and explore all of the information through literature review. Participant’s that are reviewing is often observed for analysis while “the role of the researcher focuses as the primary data collection instrument necessitates the identification of personal values, assumptions and biases at the outset of the study; Qualitative researchers ask at least one central question” (Creswell, 2014, which can be explored in several contexts with further questions. According to the text Research Design (2014) “the researcher’s role is typically involved in a
Today in society the determination for a college degree lies beyond education towards future financial security. While college debt seems to be ever increasing, students from low-income families are less likely to attend college due to the financial hardship. The social class that a student’s family falls into shows correlation on whether that student will or not attend college (Peske & Haycock, 2006). However, looking at this issue from my own prospective it seems as though no matter the social class students are attending college. What more so seems to have an affect on outcomes for individuals is how there family’s social economic status effects how well a student performs in college. For a student from a low-income family nothing can seem more daunting than the overwhelming amount of debt we have to pay after college.
Students who come from an impoverished family will struggle. The factors that Barton has addressed in these pages are just a drop in the bucket. Many of these students come to us dealing with things we could never imagine having to deal with. As educators, we need to make sure we are standing in the gap for those kids on a daily basis.
The content flows from a broad idea of the purpose to itemized ideas from the research. It is simple, and in that, effective, to communicate to its readers as it avoids lengthy descriptions and jargon. This makes it very easy for most readers to
4. Examining the suitability of research design, type of data collected and data collection method elected, the sample selected, and method of data analysis.