Date
2-29-2024
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Pat Ferrin
Keywords
Academic Engagement, Performance, Persistence, Resilience, Extracurricular Activities, Social Integration, Sense of Belonging, Social Isolation
Disciplines
Educational Leadership | Educational Methods
Recommended Citation
Day, Daniel Ryan, "Remotely Close: A Phenomenological Exploration of How Online Education May Impede Academic Persistence and Social Integration" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5246.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5246
Abstract
The aim of this transcendental phenomenological study is to define and describe the lived experiences of those who have taught and taken online classes at post-secondary Assemblies of God schools. Tinto’s theory of academic persistence and social integration served as the guiding theory of the study, as it was an indispensable part of exploring how online education may impede academic persistence and social integration between students and professors. The central question of the study deals with how online educators may improve academic persistence and social integration between their students and themselves by applying Tinto’s model of integration. By strategically utilizing the transcendental phenomenological method, Day gathered information regarding the lived experiences of the willing participants to discover emergent themes. A sample of 17 men and women who have received online education and taught online education at AGUSA schools have participated in this research project. To gather the needed information, Day utilized the following data collection methods: individual interviews, group discussions, and journal prompts. In light of the growing number of schools investing in online educational delivery systems, Day argues that students have a far greater experience when they are socially integrated rather than socially isolated. Furthermore, professors have felt the effects of social isolation and experience a high sense of professional satisfaction when they are adequately connected with their students. Therefore, through this study, Day desires to discover advanced methods for social integration so that the students may persist in their academic goals and professors may remain motivated with their professional career.
