Date of Award
5-3-2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
First Advisor
Joseph Nichols
Committee Members
Adam Long; Annette Hux; Jackie McBride; Robert Williams
Call Number
LD 251 .A566d 2019 W24
Abstract
This dissertation is a study involving ten blue-collar workers who are not currently working towards a four-year degree. The dissertation study analyzed the experiences of the participants from answers they provided during interviews, as well as through observation protocols the researcher took during those interviews. Through narrative inquiry, this study explored the lived experiences of blue-collar workers as it affected their predisposition and interest in attaining a four-year degree. Working class, blue-collar students must negotiate the difficult transition from their working-class culture, to that of the culture of academia, to be successful in college. This type of transition typically requires significant review of family dynamics, including the time and finances necessary to enroll and participate in a degree program. Research among working class, non-traditional students indicates that they face substantial barriers to the earning of a college degree, and that they are at a distinct disadvantage concerning access to college and degree attainment. The study found that this group of blue-collar workers lacked significant motivation or support systems needed for potential efforts to enroll and attempt college. The study found that the participants often lacked a belief that they would have a complete sense of belonging at a college campus, as well as a concern of how they would be able to balance the additional expenses and time that pursuit of a college degree requires. The study makes several recommendations for further studies and programs designed to help identify, minimize or help erase the perceived deficit working-class college students have in order to help them succeed in college. This study also recommends that higher education, business and industry, and local, state and federal governments work together to provide for the needs of working-class students.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Ward, Jerrod Michael, "Factors That Impact Blue-Collar Worker Higher Education Entrance and Completion: A Grounded Theory" (2019). Student Theses and Dissertations. 443.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/443
