Date of Award
2-15-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
School of Communication
First Advisor
Aimee Miller-Ott
Abstract
A college education is an indicator of success. Unfortunately, research shows that foster youth are attending college at a very low rate. This research study was conducted to understand the messages foster youth receive about college and the impact those messages have on their post-secondary education decisions. Using qualitative interviews, I investigated the communicative messages former and current foster youth received that encouraged or discouraged them in their pursuit of a post-secondary degree. Specifically, I focused on messages former and current foster youth received from their parents/caregivers, peers, school counselors, and social workers.
Through data analysis, three message types were uncovered. Foster youth reported receiving supportive/motivational, cautionary, and discouraging messages, as they were deciding if they would pursue a post-secondary education. Results suggest that the messages conveying support from foster parents and school counselors play a vital role in foster youths’ educational decisions. Practical implications, limitations, and suggestions for further research are discussed in detail.
Recommended Citation
Kilgore, LaShawnda, ""I Knew College Was in the Cards for Me: "a Thematic Analysis of the Communicative Messages Foster Youth Receive about Post -secondary Education" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 687.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/687
DOI
http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2017.Kilgore.L
Page Count
58
Comments
Imported from ProQuest Kilgore_ilstu_0092N_10899.pdf