Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Jonathan Bracewell
Keywords
Alternative Education, Alternative School, Autonomy, Competence, Growth Outcomes, Relatedness, Self-determination
Disciplines
Education | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Recommended Citation
Shannon, Allison, "Understanding the Personal Growth of Students in Alternative Education Administered by a Title I School in Southeastern Oklahoma: A Case Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7547.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7547
Abstract
The purpose of this embedded multiple-case study was to understand the personal growth for students at an alternative education program administered by a Title I school in southeastern Oklahoma. The theory guiding this study was the self-determination theory, as it explains the relationship between growth outcomes and the needs satisfaction for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The central research question was: How does personal growth occur for students at an alternative education program administered by a Title I school in southeastern Oklahoma? Thirteen participants, across four alternative education programs, were recruited for the study. Data was collected through journal prompts, individual interviews, focus group interviews, and document analysis. Patterns in the data were analyzed to develop preliminary themes within each case. A cross-case synthesis was then employed to reach a consensus across the cases. Eight themes emerged across the cases concerning personal growth: (a) confidence and self-concept, (b) social awareness and belonging, (c) motivation and work ethic, (d) purposeful learning environments, (e) independence and ownership, (f) support systems, (g) emotional resilience, and (h) learning and identity. The findings contribute to the current research and fill the gap regarding students' voices and the need to understand qualitative growth outcomes in alternative education.
