Date
10-13-2023
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Chair
Patricia Ferrin
Keywords
black male, resilience, first-generation, low-income, integration, social, academic
Disciplines
Educational Leadership
Recommended Citation
Finklea, Tre' Antonio, "A Phenomenological Study on Perceived Academic and Social Factors that Attribute to the Collegiate Success or Failure of Low-Income, First-Generation Black Males" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4891.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4891
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to analyze and discover the factors that contributed to the success or failure of first-generation Black male collegiates at four-year institutions and effectively provide an in-depth understanding of these issues. The theory guiding this study was Tinto’s theory of integration, which focuses on the norms of academic and social integration. Related to this theory was a series of studies that presented the idea that students’ involvement in the social environment and educational setups were critical to their success and retention in college. Participants completed a questionnaire to determine their eligibility for the study. I collected the data from the study for the ten individuals that met the criteria to be participants in this study. A questionnaire, one-on-one interviews, and focus groups provided the data for this study. The data yielded five themes: community mentors, engagement, self-motivation, college preparedness, and support. Several sub-themes were identified from each theme: mentors, financial and emotional support, and academic and social integration.
