African American males' perceptions of factors affecting transition from middle school to high school

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Anissia Jimmetra Jenkins (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Ceola Ross Baber

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine structural, academic, and personal factors affecting the transition of African American males to high school by giving voice to the participants. A qualitative dominant explanatory mixed methods design (Creswell, 2005) was used to collect data. In the qualitative phase, a questionnaire was administered to 16 African American male students who had completed the first semester of their freshman year. For the qualitative phase of the study, eight of the 16 participants were chosen to participate in individual and focus group interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data. Analysis of the questionnaire data informed development of the individual interview protocol; analysis of data from the individual interviews informed development of the focus group interview protocol. Qualitative data were analyzed using Creswell's (2005) content analysis coding procedures. Eight themes related to structural, academic, and personal factors emerged; (a) School Size Is Not A Problem, But... (physical structure), (b) Hangin' With My Friends In Class: Missing the Interdisciplinary Team Structure (academic structure), (c) Teachers Think We Can't Do the Work (teacher expectations), (d) This Is Harder Than I Thought It Would Be (academic expectations and academic assistance), (e) My Friends Save Me: Camaraderie of the "Brothers" at School (relationships with peers), (f) Teachers: Friend or Foe? (relationships with teachers), (g) You're Not There to Take Up Space: Great Expectations of Parents/Guardians and Community (home and community.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
African American males, Middle School to High school transition, African American adolescents, adolescent males
Subjects
African American men $x Education (Secondary).
African American boys $x Education (Middle school).
African American youth $z United States $x Attitudes.
African American high school students $z United States $x Attitudes.
High school freshmen $z United States $x Attitudes.
Life change events.
Student adjustment.
Academic achievement.
Ninth grade (Education).

Email this document to