Date

12-16-2025

Department

School of Education

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Administration (PhD)

Chair

Patricia Ferrin

Keywords

HBCUs, professional athletic staff, technology use and training, self-efficacy

Disciplines

Higher Education

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceived influence of funding on self-efficacy towards technology use after professional development for HBCU professional athletic staff at Vartell University in North Carolina. The central research question explored how HBCU professional athletic staff perceive the influence funding has on their self-efficacy towards technology use after professional development. Thirteen professional staff members who collaborate with athletics at Vartell University participated in the study. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s theory on self-efficacy, as it provides insight into how HBCU professional athletic staff perceive funding influencing their self-efficacy towards technology use after professional development opportunities. The methodology incorporated a qualitative research design. The type of sampling used for the hermeneutic phenomenological study was criterion sampling. The criterion for this study consisted of professional athletic staff from Vartell University in North Carolina who experienced technology professional development. The data collection analysis approaches used for the proposed study included individual interviews, focus groups, and a journal prompt writing exercise. Individual interviews and focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed through SpeechNote’s audio-to-text transcription application. Two cycles of coding were completed. Writing prompt responses were analyzed through two cycles of coding. Results revealed themes including access and equity to professional development, financial constraints, attitudes towards AI and self-directed learning, and personal initiative.

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