Dissertation
The role of religiosity in academic success: a qualitative study
Washington State University
Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
05/2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005735
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between religiosity and academic success in first-year college students. The study employed qualitative methods of data collection and analysis to accomplish this purpose. A purposeful sample of ten first-year college students was selected as participants, five from a community college in eastern Washington state, and five from a major research university. They were asked to describe, from their own experiences, the connection between religion and academic success. As the study proceeded four major themes emerged from the data. The first theme had to do with the perceived expectations placed upon the students by parents, religion and God. The second theme was concerned with the idea that adherence to religious values and behaviors allowed the students to focus their attention on academic pursuits and not on academic distractions such as partying, sex, drugs, or alcohol consumption. The third theme had to do with their perception that individual religiosity acted as a support system during school. That is, God was always there to assist them to accomplish their school work. The final theme related to the belief that religion allowed them to see the big picture and how educational success fit into the overall scheme of things. This study is significant in that it contributes substantive knowledge of the role religiosity plays in academic success. Conclusions and implications resulting from this study may be useful to both college and high school professionals as well as religious leaders.
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Details
- Title
- The role of religiosity in academic success
- Creators
- Richard T. Elms
- Contributors
- Gail C. Furman (Chair)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- College of Education
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EdD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 90
- Identifiers
- 99901054760401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation