ERIC Number: ED538068
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 172
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-2671-8221-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Phenomenological Investigation into the Lived Experiences of Older Undergraduate Students
Coyle, Patrick J.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Capella University
This phenomenological study examined the experience of being an older undergraduate student in the first decade of the twenty-first century, as described by eight older undergraduate students while attending a four-year college. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of what it means to be an older undergraduate student by exploring the lived experiences of several of these older undergraduate students. As phenomenology allows a researcher to uncover the underlying essence of a phenomenon, it was the most appropriate research design for this study. Qualitative data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and researcher field notes. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using phenomenological reduction, resulting in the identification of five primary themes and 12 subthemes. The study concludes with a discussion of the findings of this study, the implications of the findings, and recommendations for further research. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Phenomenology, Undergraduate Students, Semi Structured Interviews, Adult Students, Qualitative Research, Age Differences, Student Experience, Nontraditional Students
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A