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Title: Interracial Lesbian and Gay Couples: Navigating Private and Public Experiences.
Creator: Bubriski, Anne, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Rivera, Fernando, Carter, Shannon, Santana, Maria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study explores the private and public experiences of Black/White interracial lesbian and gay couples. Drawing from the theoretical frameworks of critical race theory and intersectional feminism, this research focuses on how the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality influence relationship experiences and family processes in both private and public spaces for interracial same-sex couples. This study is based on 19 in-depth interviews with individuals in Black/White lesbian and gay...
Show moreThis study explores the private and public experiences of Black/White interracial lesbian and gay couples. Drawing from the theoretical frameworks of critical race theory and intersectional feminism, this research focuses on how the intersections of gender, race, and sexuality influence relationship experiences and family processes in both private and public spaces for interracial same-sex couples. This study is based on 19 in-depth interviews with individuals in Black/White lesbian and gay relationships. Participants' stories highlight intersectionality in terms of the ways interracial lesbian and gay couples navigate these interpersonal and public spaces. Participant experiences suggest that the dichotomy of private/public is often blurred, and these two spaces frequently overlap and intersect. Often what participants experience in public is then discussed and interpreted within private spaces. It is in the private space that participants work through complex issues in order to present themselves as a couple in public. Participants frequently used their public and interpersonal experiences with their partners to be reflexive of their own understandings of the social world, relationship processes, and love. Given the lack of research on same-sex, interracial families, this study makes an important contribution to sociological research on families, LGTBQ studies, and race studies.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004824, ucf:49730
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004824

Title: High School Students Attending College: A Study of the Dual Enrollment Program and its Impact on the Postsecondary Institution of Brevard Community College.
Creator: Hiesterman, Matthew, Rivera, Fernando, Gay, David, Grauerholz, Elizabeth, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study looks at the dual enrollment program at Brevard Community College in the state of Florida. It uses new interview data to determine if the positive and negative aspects of the program established by the literature still pertain. Four main themes were identified by the study of dual enrollment students and the postsecondary institution: money, quality of students, quantity of students, and opportunities of students and the institution. A discussion of each side of the discourse are...
Show moreThis study looks at the dual enrollment program at Brevard Community College in the state of Florida. It uses new interview data to determine if the positive and negative aspects of the program established by the literature still pertain. Four main themes were identified by the study of dual enrollment students and the postsecondary institution: money, quality of students, quantity of students, and opportunities of students and the institution. A discussion of each side of the discourse are made in order to help the program retain its positive attributes. While quality, quantity, and money are all issues concerning the day to day problems that arise in the program, it would appear that the motivation and reason a student is in the dual enrollment program drastically affects all three of these themes as they have the ability to positively or negatively use the opportunity of being in the program. Recommendations are made which may allow the institution and those involved in the dual enrollment program, specifically the faculty, to run as smoothly, efficiently, and productively as possible.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004862, ucf:49685
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004862

Title: Down in the Mouth: Homelessness and Oral Health.
Creator: Kleinberger, Jessica, Wright, James, Rivera, Fernando, Donley, Amy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The burden of dental disease in American has been termed a (")silent epidemic,(") affecting the most vulnerable populations in society. Poor oral health has been linked with general health issues, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as decreased mental health and impairments in social functioning. This burden weighs particularly heavy on the homeless, who are not only denied access to private systems of care, but are further rejected by an inadequately supported public safety...
Show moreThe burden of dental disease in American has been termed a (")silent epidemic,(") affecting the most vulnerable populations in society. Poor oral health has been linked with general health issues, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as decreased mental health and impairments in social functioning. This burden weighs particularly heavy on the homeless, who are not only denied access to private systems of care, but are further rejected by an inadequately supported public safety net. Despite the recognition of social inequalities and the call for further scientific research, oral health care has not been extensively recognized within sociology. The aim of this research was to uncover how Central Florida's homeless adults cope with oral health issues in the face of barriers. This study intends to begin closing the gap by exploring the ways in which structural inequalities are embodied in the teeth of the homeless. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with homeless individuals in the Central Florida area in regards to their oral health and coping mechanisms. Results indicate that without conventional access to dental care, homeless are forced to rely on emergency departments, alcohol, illegal drugs, home remedies, and over-the-counter medications. When treatment was received, only emergency services were provided. This led to an extraction-denture treatment model which left many homeless individuals edentulous, with continued complications in their ability to eat, work, and talk.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005192, ucf:50640
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005192

Title: The U.S. Environmental Movement 1890-2002: Discourse Divisions, Environmental Crisis Events, and Strategic Concessions.
Creator: Kane, Wendi, Wright, James, Morris, Joan, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The U.S. Environmental Movement is facing a paradox: increased mobilization over the last 100 years has not been entirely effective in halting environmental degradation. This research suggests that discourse divisions among environmental movement organizations constitute a fundamental obstacle to progressive change. The discourse divisions are evident in movement organizing patterns during periods of increased environmental crisis over the history of the modern environmental movement. In...
Show moreThe U.S. Environmental Movement is facing a paradox: increased mobilization over the last 100 years has not been entirely effective in halting environmental degradation. This research suggests that discourse divisions among environmental movement organizations constitute a fundamental obstacle to progressive change. The discourse divisions are evident in movement organizing patterns during periods of increased environmental crisis over the history of the modern environmental movement. In addition, evidence suggests that federal environmental policy is an outcome of increased organizing among movement organizations with more transformative visions of change. However, policy outcomes from increased pressure among transformative organizations are significantly correlated with Republican presidential administrations lending evidence to the idea that policy reform is a moderating strategy employed to silence radical change-makers. The results from this research contribute to the Marxist model of historical change under-discussed in the social movement literature. It also contributes to the ongoing debate in the environmental movement literature addressing the continued effectiveness of the environmental movement as a program for change.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005189, ucf:50638
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005189

Title: Raising Roma Voices: An Insider Examination of American Roma Realities, Resistance, and Revaluation.
Creator: Deaton, Sabrina, Grauerholz, Liz, Koontz, Amanda, Rivera, Fernando, Hancock, Ian, Santana, Maria, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A vast scholarship has been dedicated to examining the discrimination racial and ethnic minorities endure in the United States. Research has also shown racial and ethnic minorities work to resist discrimination via various social processes. One ethnic minority group absent from the literature is the American Roma, more commonly known as Gypsies. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insights into the situation of the American Roma, including the discrimination they endure and the resistance...
Show moreA vast scholarship has been dedicated to examining the discrimination racial and ethnic minorities endure in the United States. Research has also shown racial and ethnic minorities work to resist discrimination via various social processes. One ethnic minority group absent from the literature is the American Roma, more commonly known as Gypsies. Therefore, this study aimed to gain insights into the situation of the American Roma, including the discrimination they endure and the resistance tactics they employ. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 native-born American Roma adults during the course of this insider study. Participants reported experiencing discrimination in schools, employment, and the criminal justice system, similar to other racialized minorities. Findings also show members of the American Roma population invoke authenticity work, passing, and moral boundaries to resist discrimination and ethno-religious efforts to combat internal issues such as Romani language attrition and illiteracy.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007835, ucf:52833
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007835

Title: Cross-Sector And Inter-Organizational Collaborative Capacity In Community Disaster Resilience And Sustainability: Evidence From Central Florida Counties.
Creator: Demiroz, Fatih, Kapucu, Naim, Hawkins, Christopher, Knox, Claire, Wan, Thomas, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study examines the relationships between interorganizational network development and sustainability, organizational capacity for emergency management, technology utilization, and community disaster resiliency. It is proposed that cross sector and interorganizational collaboration (i.e., network development and sustainability), information communication technology (ICT) utilization, and organizational capacity have a positive impact on disaster resiliency. Disaster resiliency is measured...
Show moreThis study examines the relationships between interorganizational network development and sustainability, organizational capacity for emergency management, technology utilization, and community disaster resiliency. It is proposed that cross sector and interorganizational collaboration (i.e., network development and sustainability), information communication technology (ICT) utilization, and organizational capacity have a positive impact on disaster resiliency. Disaster resiliency is measured with a three dimensional metric which includes effectiveness of disaster response, effectiveness of disaster recovery, and adaptive capacities.A questionnaire was sent to organizations that are part of the emergency management system in 11 counties in Central Florida. These organizations were identified by each county's comprehensive emergency management plans. County emergency managers served as the liaison people to reach organizations. They distributed the questionnaire and sent reminders to participants. The study aimed to reach an entire population of 855 emergency management affiliated organizations. The survey had a 25.28% response rate. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the impact of interorganizational network development, interorganizational network sustainability, information communication technology utilization, and organizational capacity on community disaster resiliency. The results of the study show that one third of the total variation in disaster resiliency was explained with the exogenous variables in the structural equation model (R2=.31). There was no statistically significant relationship between network development and disaster resiliency. Also, a correlation was hypothesized between organizational capacity and ICT utilization, according to the study findings no correlation was found between these two variables. Network development, organizational capacity, and ICT utilization were found to be positively associated with disaster resiliency. Among all the variables, organizational capacity had the highest impact on disaster resiliency (?=.36). ICT utilization and network development had almost equal regression weights (?=.25, ?=.26 respectively). A correlation was also found between network development and ICT utilization with ?=.23.The results suggest that organizations that are part of emergency management systems in Central Florida counties could enhance disaster resiliency of their communities by focusing on interorganizational and cross-sector network development, information communication technology utilization, and organizational capacity. Managerial craft has a critical role in developing relationship as most of the interorganizational ties are established with informal connections and mutual trust. Building relationship, installing technological systems, and carrying out joint trainings often exceeds financial capacities of organizations. Enabling more funding for these initiatives is another key point to which policy makers may pay attention.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004505, ucf:49286
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004505

Title: Implementing Sustainability Initiatives: A Study of U.S. Local Governments.
Creator: Lebredo, Nick, Kapucu, Naim, Wang, Xiaohu, Hawkins, Christopher, Knox, Claire, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Sustainability has been framed by the World Commission on Environment and Development as a fundamental concept in human society and by Fiorino (2010) as a critical conceptual focus for public administration over the next decade. A large number of U.S. local governments have implemented sustainability initiatives. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have comprehensively examined sustainability implementation by local governments.This study makes a concerted effort to examine sustainability...
Show moreSustainability has been framed by the World Commission on Environment and Development as a fundamental concept in human society and by Fiorino (2010) as a critical conceptual focus for public administration over the next decade. A large number of U.S. local governments have implemented sustainability initiatives. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have comprehensively examined sustainability implementation by local governments.This study makes a concerted effort to examine sustainability implementation in U.S. local governments, which have taken the lead in many areas of sustainability. This study also develops a capacity building model to empirically evaluate how organizational strategies and capacities influence sustainability practices at the local level of government through a national survey of U.S. cities with populations over 50,000.The results show that cities are most successful in implementing sustainability initiatives if they develop proper technical, financial, and, particularly, managerial capacities and if they pursue primarily external, bottom-up, more participative, citizen or stakeholder driven strategies. These results suggest a public manager road map for sustainability implementation. From a theoretical perspective, the capacity building model adopted in this study provides a relatively powerful explanation of sustainability implementation, which demonstrates the value of a capacity building model in further studying sustainability implementation.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004337, ucf:49444
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004337

Title: Organizational Complexity, Emergency Management Plan Adequacy, and Nursing Home Resiliency: A Contingency Perspective.
Creator: Boyce, Cherie, Wan, Thomas, Zhang, Ning, Oetjen, Reid, Rivera, Fernando, Kapucu, Naim, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Some social and organizational behavior scientists measure resiliency through anecdotal qualitative research, i.e. personality analyses and stories of life experience. Empirical evidence remains limited for identifying measurable indicators of resiliency. Therefore, a testable contingency model was needed to clarify resiliency factors pertinent to organizational performance. Two essential resiliency factors were: 1) a written plan and 2) affiliation with a disaster network.This contingency...
Show moreSome social and organizational behavior scientists measure resiliency through anecdotal qualitative research, i.e. personality analyses and stories of life experience. Empirical evidence remains limited for identifying measurable indicators of resiliency. Therefore, a testable contingency model was needed to clarify resiliency factors pertinent to organizational performance. Two essential resiliency factors were: 1) a written plan and 2) affiliation with a disaster network.This contingency study demonstrated a quantifiable, correlational effect between organizational complexity, disaster plan adequacy and organizational resiliency. The unit of analysis, the skilled nursing facility proved vulnerable, therefore justifying the need for a written emergency management plan and affiliation with a disaster network. The main purpose of this research was to verify the significance of emergency management plans within a contingency framework of complexity theory, resource dependency, systems theory, and network theory. Distinct sample moments quantified causal relationships between organizational complexity (A), plan adequacy (B) and resiliency (C). Primary and secondary research data were collected from within the context of public health and emergency management sectors within the State of Florida.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005929, ucf:50842
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005929

Title: The Education Pathway Through Social and Economic Integration of Highly Educated Immigrants: The Case of Colombians in the United States.
Creator: Bedoya Arturo, Olga, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Owens, J. Thomas, Laureano Fuentes, Gloria, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Developed countries have promoted immigration of educated people as a strategy to satisfy the demand for educated labor. Highly educated immigrants' poor language skills, absence of cultural networks, and lack of credentials and recognized professional experience gained in the country of origin are barriers to their social and economic integration (Ferrer (&) Riddell, 2008; Mattoo, Neagu, (&) ?zden, 2008; Miranda (&) Umhoefer, 1998; Zikic, Bonache, (&) Cerdin, 2010). The purpose of this study...
Show moreDeveloped countries have promoted immigration of educated people as a strategy to satisfy the demand for educated labor. Highly educated immigrants' poor language skills, absence of cultural networks, and lack of credentials and recognized professional experience gained in the country of origin are barriers to their social and economic integration (Ferrer (&) Riddell, 2008; Mattoo, Neagu, (&) ?zden, 2008; Miranda (&) Umhoefer, 1998; Zikic, Bonache, (&) Cerdin, 2010). The purpose of this study was to explore how college experiences in an American college or university facilitate or hinder the transfer and gain of different forms of capital among highly educated Colombia immigrants. All of the participants in this study completed at least a bachelor's degree before moving to the United States and came to this country under any visa category except that of student. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with six Colombian immigrants living in the state of Florida. The results of the study revealed five common themes shared by the participants: (1) exposure and exchange of different forms of thinking and cultural expressions; (2) performing in ways that meet requirements of American institutions; (3) achieving credentials recognized by professionals in the United States' job market and social structure; (4) capacity to assess their own abilities and take control of their future; and (5) connections that provide social, emotional, and intellectual support as well as information.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005923, ucf:50828
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005923

Title: "I Kid You Not, I am Asked a Question about Children At Least Once a Week": Exploring Differences in Childbearing Habitus in Pronatalist Fields.
Creator: Mullins, Alyssa, Rivera, Fernando, Carter, Shannon, Jasinski, Jana, McQuillan, Julia, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In the United States, childbearing remains part of the typical life course. However, evidence suggests that men and women, on average, are having fewer children and having them later in life. Additionally, public and academic outlets are increasingly acknowledging some adults' decisions to intentionally forego childbearing completely, with an emphasis on the reasons why individuals choose to abstain from childbearing. However, further research is needed to identify the ways in which...
Show moreIn the United States, childbearing remains part of the typical life course. However, evidence suggests that men and women, on average, are having fewer children and having them later in life. Additionally, public and academic outlets are increasingly acknowledging some adults' decisions to intentionally forego childbearing completely, with an emphasis on the reasons why individuals choose to abstain from childbearing. However, further research is needed to identify the ways in which voluntarily childless adults actively negotiate the social world among structural influences that simultaneously values parenthood and place complex burdens on parents. Utilizing the Bourdieuian concepts of habitus, capital, and field, the present study contributes to a shift in the conversation from (")why(") individuals remain childless toward an understanding of (")how(") childbearing preferences impact individuals' lives in practice. This research compares experiences and characteristics of non-parents in relation to childbearing preferences. In particular, this research suggests measures to identify deeply rooted childbearing habitus, the relationship between access to various forms of capital and the habitus, and explores how this identity relates to experiences in various social fields. The Bourdieuian perspective poses that individuals' access to capital simultaneously shapes and is shaped by the habitus. Similarly, habitus and capital both shape and are shaped by experiences in various social arenas. Thus the research presented here consists of an exploratory analysis finding support for the use of the concepts associated with this theoretical framework, in order to encourage future research to establish a more complete understanding of the decision (not) to become a parent. The current study includes a sample of 972 childless men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 years old. Purposive sampling techniques were used to oversample voluntarily childless adults (n=573) to be compared to adults that intend to have children in the future (n=399). Respondents completed an online questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions addressing personality traits and motivations for childbearing preferences, as well as the structural and interactional impact of these preferences (-) including measures of social support, cultural norms, and economic resources. In utilizing Bourdieuian concepts of habitus and field as they relate to the complex interplay between individual agency and external structures, this study offers a more comprehensive grasp of the complex reasons for and experiences of a voluntarily childless lifestyle. This shift in emphasis also suggests contributions to a greater understanding of the perceived impact of structural forces, including the health care industry's gatekeeping of reproductive technologies and the work/family life balance in relation to voluntary childlessness as well as broader decisions or processes of becoming a parent, by identifying the similarities and differences between groups.
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Date Issued: 2016
Identifier: CFE0006361, ucf:51501
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006361

Title: Managing Effective Collaboration among Law Enforcement, Intelligence Services, and Military Forces in Fight against Terrorism and Organized Crime.
Creator: Demirhan, Cihan, Kapucu, Naim, Hu, Qian, Feldheim, Mary Ann, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The fight against terrorism and organized crime require strong collaboration between public security organizations. Public security networks include several agencies that are not bound to each other with strong hierarchical ties. Because of a lack of the strong hierarchical structure, managing public networks is not similar to managing a single government agency. This study aims to examine the factors influencing network effectiveness in the public security sector. The main research questions...
Show moreThe fight against terrorism and organized crime require strong collaboration between public security organizations. Public security networks include several agencies that are not bound to each other with strong hierarchical ties. Because of a lack of the strong hierarchical structure, managing public networks is not similar to managing a single government agency. This study aims to examine the factors influencing network effectiveness in the public security sector. The main research questions of the study are: Which factors are important for effectiveness in public security networks? What is the role of inter-organizational trust among partner agencies? Which kind of leadership style will achieve the highest performance in public security networks? What is the relative importance of goal convergence and organizational culture in network effectiveness? How does the relationship between inter-organizational trust, leadership style, goal convergence and organizational culture impact network effectiveness? In order to find these relations, a self-reported survey was sent to 2,095 current and previous Turkish public security network managers. The study found that inter-organizational trust and goal convergence have a positive relationship with network effectiveness. Although facilitator leadership is found to be the most common leadership style in Turkish public security networks, it is found as inappropriate to achieve higher network effectiveness. According to the results, the co-producer network leadership is the most convenient leadership style in terms of network effectiveness. While the results of the descriptive statistics confirm that six specific features of organizational culture in public security sector have negative influence on network effectiveness, the hypothesis testing with the covariance structure model only support the negative impact of competition among partner organization. This study contributes to the literature on network effectiveness with particular proposals for the public security managers and practitioners.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005479, ucf:50350
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005479

Title: The effect of free primary education programs on marriage for Kenyan women.
Creator: Eisele, Joanna, Wright, James, Corzine, Harold, Rivera, Fernando, Carter, J. Scott, Pals, Heili, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation investigates the effect of education on the chances and age of marriage during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood among Kenyan women age 15-22. Women who receive more education are more likely to delay marriage. The literature suggests that occupation and age at sexual debut are also significantly associated with age of marriage. This study considers how these and other factors may possibly affect the life course of women in Kenya over a period of time and...
Show moreThis dissertation investigates the effect of education on the chances and age of marriage during the transition from adolescence into young adulthood among Kenyan women age 15-22. Women who receive more education are more likely to delay marriage. The literature suggests that occupation and age at sexual debut are also significantly associated with age of marriage. This study considers how these and other factors may possibly affect the life course of women in Kenya over a period of time and increases our understanding of marriage predictors. Data comes from the 2003 and 2008 Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys. Binary logistic and OLS regression models are used to analyze and compare the data. The results imply that while education has a statistically significant and strong positive effect on a woman's marital status as well as age of marriage, the effect of education on age of marriage has not changed since the introduction of Kenya's free primary education program.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005486, ucf:50349
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005486

Title: Puerto Rican Women in Pursuit of the Ph.D.: A Qualitative Analysis of Persistence.
Creator: Morales, Cyndia, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Owens, James, Laureano Fuentes, Gloria, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study explores the phenomenon of Puerto Rican women who have achieved a Ph.D. degree. The researcher utilized a qualitative research methodology to investigate the social aspects that influenced Puerto Rican women to persist in their doctoral programs. Due to the national pool of potential participants, interviews were conducted with Puerto Rican women using video chat software. The researcher utilizes 5 tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the framework for this study, in an effort...
Show moreThis study explores the phenomenon of Puerto Rican women who have achieved a Ph.D. degree. The researcher utilized a qualitative research methodology to investigate the social aspects that influenced Puerto Rican women to persist in their doctoral programs. Due to the national pool of potential participants, interviews were conducted with Puerto Rican women using video chat software. The researcher utilizes 5 tenets of Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the framework for this study, in an effort to address the varying aspects that contribute to the persistence of Puerto Rican women in graduate study, despite the challenges often cited in the literature as deterrents to academic achievement. The participants' experiences are examined on an individual, interactional, and institutional level, in order to gain insight into their persistence. This study captures the stories of Puerto Rican women raised in the mainland U.S. as well as those raised on the island itself. Ultimately, this study addresses two main gaps in the literature: (1) research is lacking on Latinas who are successful in higher education, and (2) traditional research tends to describe Latino/a academic achievement as a collective, with little attention given to the cultural distinctions of Latino subgroups in their educational trajectories.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004725, ucf:49828
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004725

Title: The unheard voices of nontraditional students in Higher Education: Learning to become a student.
Creator: Julio Maturana, Marcelo, Cintron Delgado, Rosa, Boote, David, Owens, J. Thomas, Guzman-Valenzuela, Carolina, Rivera, Fernando, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study explores the lived experiences of older students who work and have family responsibilities while attending an undergraduate program full-time. Research indicates that this segment of the student population is the only one that is growing today and is projected to grow in the future; this also is the largest the group of students thatdoes not finish their studies in spite of the many services aimed at supporting students' academic success.This study critically investigated the...
Show moreThis study explores the lived experiences of older students who work and have family responsibilities while attending an undergraduate program full-time. Research indicates that this segment of the student population is the only one that is growing today and is projected to grow in the future; this also is the largest the group of students thatdoes not finish their studies in spite of the many services aimed at supporting students' academic success.This study critically investigated the category of the nontraditional student and reviewed the literature about students' college experiences, including the limitations of its theoretical assumptions to describe and explain the nature of the college journey of olderstudents with substantive life experiences. From the notion that learning is lifelong and holistic (Jarvis, 2006), this study combined a student-centered approach with a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to respond to the following research questions: What is the lifeworld of undergraduate nontraditional students with significantlife experience as they encounter college life? What resources sustain the college experience of undergraduate nontraditional students of and allow navigating the space of college life? What are the changes undergraduate nontraditional students live, the meaning they construct while encountering, and navigating college life?Themes that resulted from the analysis included the participants' experiences as essentially different from that of traditional students. These nontraditional college students bring skills and knowledge that they deploy on behalf of their specific academic goals. The pace of their lives is fundamentally different from the traditional universitystudent's sense of time; they are self-sufficient, making decisions and navigate obstacles.Their new identity as students is re-negotiated with the identities they live outside of campus and they establish ad hoc relationships with members of the universitycommunity.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007201, ucf:52255
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007201

college students (2)	+ -
medical sociology (2)	+ -
poverty (2)	+ -
race (2)	+ -
sociology (2)	+ -

Acheivement (1)	+ -
African American Health (1)	+ -
Agnew's General Strain Theory (1)	+ -
American Roma (1)	+ -
Animals and Society (1)	+ -
Bourdieu (1)	+ -
Central Florida (1)	+ -
Cohabitation (1)	+ -
Content Analysis (1)	+ -
Diabetes (1)	+ -
Dual enrollment (1)	+ -
EVOS (1)	+ -
Environmental Crisis (1)	+ -
Environmental Movement (1)	+ -
Environmental Policy (1)	+ -
Environmental Sociology (1)	+ -
Family (1)	+ -
Florida (1)	+ -
France (1)	+ -
General Strain (1)	+ -
Generations (1)	+ -
Goal Convergence (1)	+ -
HPV (1)	+ -
Health Behaviors (1)	+ -
Heavy Metal (1)	+ -

University of Central Florida (34)	+ -
Rivera, Fernando (33)	+ -
Wright, James (7)	+ -
Kapucu, Naim (6)	+ -
Carter, Shannon (5)	+ -

Gay, David (5)	+ -
Hinojosa, Melanie (4)	+ -
Cintron Delgado, Rosa (3)	+ -
Grauerholz, Elizabeth (3)	+ -
Grauerholz, Liz (3)	+ -
Santana, Maria (3)	+ -
Donley, Amy (2)	+ -
Ford, Jason (2)	+ -
Hawkins, Christopher (2)	+ -
Huff-Corzine, Lin (2)	+ -
Knox, Claire (2)	+ -
Koontz, Amanda (2)	+ -
Laureano Fuentes, Gloria (2)	+ -
Lynxwiler, John (2)	+ -
Owens, J. Thomas (2)	+ -
Pals, Heili (2)	+ -
Towns, Tangela (2)	+ -
Wan, Thomas (2)	+ -
Akin, Mergin (1)	+ -
Arrastia, Meagan (1)	+ -
Bares, Lindsey (1)	+ -
Bedoya Arturo, Olga (1)	+ -
Boote, David (1)	+ -
Boyce, Cherie (1)	+ -
Broxton, Margaret (1)	+ -

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