Blackman-Smith, Rhonda
(2023)
The influence of students’ background on their perceptions of success, and how these perceptions influence their experiences of success in a higher education institution in Turks and Caicos Islands.
Doctor of Education thesis, University of Liverpool.
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Abstract
The study has a focus on the phenomenon of students’ success through their individual experiences, and the role backgrounds and perceptions play in influencing their success while at college. It gives clearer insights of the participants psyche at present and their status prior to admission to the Turks and Caicos Island Community College (TCICC). It provides deeper understanding into influences in their lives that have contributed to or impeded their success. The study mainly focused on a purposeful sample of ten students who are enrolled in any Bachelor’s degree program offered at the college. It utilized a biographical life history methodology aligned with a social interpretive paradigm that is qualitative in its research and is grounded in hermeneutics. Narrative interpretive analysis was used as the focus is on the meaning participants attribute to their life experiences. Data was collected using demographic data, participatory photography and semi structured interviews; followed by a two-stage analysis process. The first stage of the analysis was the production of the individual narrative. In the second stage, the model of reflexive thematic analysis of Braun and Clark’s (2006) was utilized to guide the analysis and assist with the identification, analysis and determination of different commonalities based on categories or themes found in the data. Supportive evidence was provided through photo-elicitation images. The findings were discussed through a Bourdieusian lens, utilizing Bourdieusian metatheory with its thinking tools of habitus, capital and field as I sought to address the research questions. The findings revealed that different socioeconomic backgrounds and past experiences of students have an influence on their perception of success, and these perceptions influence their reality or personal dispositions and experiences of success at college. These perceptions also helped to shape the practices and choices of students and impacted on their thinking, personalities and prospects. This study can aid TCICC in understanding the impact experiences and context have on their students’ success and assist other higher education institutions in the region in preparing for students’ success. It can help the Department of Education assist high schools in the preparation of its students for the smooth transition into their higher education experience by providing theoretical and practical knowledge to assist high school teachers to adequately prepare students for college.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctor of Education) |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Bourdieusian metatheory, students’ perception, widening participation |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 05 Apr 2023 10:25 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Jul 2023 17:09 |
| DOI: | 10.17638/03169414 |
| Supervisors: |
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| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169414 |
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