Date
4-2020
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction (EdD)
Chair
Sharon Michael-Chadwell
Keywords
African-American, Competence, Autonomy, Relatedness, Engagement, High School Graduation
Disciplines
Education | Educational Methods | Secondary Education
Recommended Citation
Matthews, Tressa D., "A Phenomenological Study That Examined the Experiences of High School Teachers Who Build Supportive Classroom Environments That Encourage African-American Students to Graduate" (2020). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 2377.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/2377
Abstract
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of high school teachers who have created supportive classroom environments that encourage African-American students to graduate. The theory guiding this study was the self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2008) as it explains the psychological needs of students to encourage persistence toward high school graduation. The central question guided the research in describing the experiences of high school teachers who have created a supportive classroom environment at high schools with high graduation rates for African-American students in Southeastern Michigan. The study sought to determine the experiences of teachers who have built a supportive classroom environment that supported competence, autonomy, relatedness among the students to encourage engagement. The purposeful and criterion sampling by use of a survey endured the participants have experienced the phenomenon. Interviews, a journal prompt, and focus groups provided triangulation of data to describe the essence of the experience. Data analysis was completed by hand coding the data into themes. The study found that the participants use relationships, collaboration, and positive reinforcement to motivate and engage African-American students. All three of the themes provided a rich thick description of the experiences in the classroom that motivate African-American students to persevere.
