Purpose: This article explores challenges faced by doctoral candidates using grounded theory (GT) in their theses, focusing on coding, theory development and time constraints. It also examines the impact of doctoral committees on GT dissertations, addressing epistemological clashes and the desire for familiarity over novelty.…

This grounded theory study aimed to understand the process of leadership identity development experienced by traditional-aged female undergraduate college students. The findings led to a model for leadership identity development consisting of four phases. Students' leadership identity development progressed from views of leadership as external to…

The dissertation study is a basic qualitative study, which illuminates the educational experiences of active duty undergraduate army adult learners or active duty learners. The literature review for the study highlights themes of military education, of identity roles, of adult learnings and of how the brain learns. The study closed the gap in…

As racial tensions continue on college campuses across the nation, more attention is needed to understanding the ways in which students of color gain a level of authority in speaking on racial issues. Based on interviews with 31 undergraduate students of color from 2 public research universities on the U.S. West Coast, this study asked…

Nursing education programs are experiencing many trends impacting the preparation of students including a nursing faculty shortage and a lack of quality clinical sites. In addition, literature is finding new nurse graduates unprepared when entering practice, lacking the required critical thinking, delegation, and prioritization skills necessary to…

University-based academic advising at a large, Great Lakes state institution was designed to support first-year students' transition to college. We conducted individual interviews and facilitated story circles with 162 students to determine their perceived effectiveness of advising. Analyses revealed four overarching themes: student difficulty…

The article aims to explore the attributes of quality and quality improvement including the process and specific actions associated with these attributes--that contribute enhancing quality in Iranian Virtual Higher Education (VHE) institutions. A total of 16 interviews were conducted with experts and key actors in Iranian virtual higher education.…

Cooperating teachers' teaching perspectives and participation in initial teacher education have been frequently considered as ways to understand teachers' learning trajectories and professional identity at workplace settings (Clarke and Jarvis-Selinger, 2005; Clarke et al. 2014; Lave and Wenger, 1991). A case study approach was employed to examine…

With advances in biotechnology come potential changes in how college students may understand the nature of identity. This study explores sensemaking around the biological underpinnings of proclaimed "social" identities (e.g., race, class, and gender). Based on interviews with 34 undergraduate students recruited from two large public…

Assuming a dialectical approach to technology and pedagogy, this study explores sensemaking processes for instructors teaching in a technologically enhanced college classroom environment. Through a series of semi-structured individual and group interviews, seven instructors provided narrative accounts of the problems encountered with progressive…

Leadership and developmental scholars have highlighted the need to enhance youth leadership skills. Yet, research that explains youths' perceptions of how and when role models influences their leadership growth processes is limited. To address these gaps and begin to develop an understanding of youths' perspectives, we employed a qualitative,…

An investigation of the literature revealed that racial consciousness and the behaviors of White faculty in the classroom appeared linked. A conceptual framework, Racial Consciousness and Its Influence on the Behaviors of White Faculty in the Classroom, was subsequently developed and tested in this constructivist grounded theory study. Findings…

There is limited research related to nursing students' social media use. Because of this, there was a need to further explore how they were using social media and their ability to maintain e-professionalism. This study discovered that pre-licensure baccalaureate nursing students are actively using multiple social media accounts on a daily basis.…

This article reports findings from a constructionist grounded theory study with 51 first-year college students. We explored student definitions and development of a sense of belonging during their first year of college. Belonging for all participants was shaped by 3 themes: environmental perceptions, involvement, and relationships. Yet, there were…

Fostering a strong sense of community among students in online courses is the goal of many instructors because it is seen as being essential in supporting students' learning experiences. However, high dropout rates in online learning suggest that students feel disconnected and isolated from their course, feelings which have been attributed to the…