First Advisor
McDevitt, Teresa
Document Type
Dissertation
Date Created
12-1-2009
Department
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Psychological Sciences, SPS Student Work
Abstract
Young adults from Latina/o backgrounds draw from cultural assets and wrestle with distinctive challenges as they enter into, study at, and graduate from institutions of higher education. In this investigation, I examined the perspectives of Latina/o college students with low and high academic achievement, focusing on their upbringing within families and their identification with their cultural heritage. A sequential mixed method study was implemented and the study was grounded in Margaret Spencer’s PVEST framework (1995, 2006), the development of ethnic identity (Umaña-Taylor, Yazedjian, & Bámaca-Gómez, 2004), and factors associated with the academic achievement of students from Latina/o backgrounds. Results suggest four factors related to the academic achievement of Latina/o college students: Family, Religion, Support, and Motivation. Furthermore, results from the Ethnic Identity Survey suggest that students in the low GPA group were categorized as diffuse positive, while students in the high GPA group were classified as moratorium positive. Qualitative results supported these findings, and added depth to how students viewed success, prepared academically, identified academic successes and challenges, accentuated sources of motivation, and highlighted the importance of academic support from parents and universities. Future research considerations are discussed as well as implications for education.
Abstract Format
html
Keywords
Strengths-Based Approach; Educational Psychology; Mexican Americans; Higher Education; Latinos; PVEST Framework; Ethnic Identity Survey
Extent
216 pages
Local Identifiers
Lara_unco_0161N_10020.pdf
Rights Statement
Copyright is held by author.
Digital Origin
Born digital
Recommended Citation
Lara, Laura, "A mixed method study of factors associated with the academic achievement of Latina/o college students from predominantly Mexican American backgrounds: a strengths-based approach" (2009). Dissertations. 190.
https://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations/190
