Susan Neste

Date of Award

10-26-1998

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Gerald Bass

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of nontraditional age female students at the University of North Dakota in regard to support mechanisms that have, or have not, enhanced the likelihood of success in their efforts to secure a college degree. Research questions focused on several issues including support mechanisms provided by the University of North Dakota as well as support mechanisms outside the University (i.e., family, job, church, community support). Additionally, the research questions focused on those obstacles which may or may not have impeded students' academic success and on nontraditional age female students' perceptions of whether they were similar to or different from traditional age female students.Data were gathered using a survey instrument mailed to 200 University of North Dakota undergraduate female students (100 traditional age and 100 nontraditional age) all of whom were enrolled in classes at the University of North Dakota in the fall semester of 1997. Students in the population had completed 90 or more credit hours and had completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at the University of North Dakota. Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were calculated and the chi-square test for independence was used to test for degrees of significance between groups. Additionally, six subjects were selected for interviews from those nontraditional age female respondents who had indicated a willingness to participate in the interview process.No statistical significance was found between the groups regarding (1) the efficacy of support mechanisms within or outside the University of North Dakota, or (2) obstacles which may have impeded their academic success.Support mechanisms within the University of North Dakota which the majority of nontraditional female students indicated aided in their academic success were the libraries, Student Health, and Student Financial Aid. Of the married nontraditional age female respondents, their husbands were considered the greatest support mechanism outside the university. The majority of nontraditional age female students indicated that there were basically no obstacles which impeded their academic success. The majority of nontraditional age female respondents perceived themselves as different from traditional age students only in regard to time constraints.

Download

Share

COinS