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.

Comments

Imported from ProQuest Kilgore_ilstu_0092N_10899.pdf

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2017.Kilgore.L

Page Count

58

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