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Discerning Identity: A Grounded Theory of International Muslim and Former Muslim Students' Shifts in Religious and Cultural Identity at Two Midwestern Universities

Erickson, Brett Tyler
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395408848

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Cross-Cultural, International Education.
This study examines the shifts of international Muslim and former Muslim students' religious and/or cultural identity as they studied at one of two Midwestern universities. This study uses an inductive approach to analyze interview data for the purpose of answering the central question: What are the shifts international Muslim students are experiencing in regards to their Muslim and/or cultural identity? And, the following sub-questions are addressed: What is contributing to international Muslim students' shifts in Muslim and/or cultural identity? What are the implications of these shifts? Using a grounded theory approach, these questions are answered using inductively arrived at axial categories, which include independence, exposure, and questioning, and a central category of discernment. The categories resulted from the participants' data, and help understand what shifts international Muslim students are experiencing. Additionally, these categories help to understand what is contributing to these shifts, and what the implications of these shifts are. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted with international Muslim and former Muslim students who were studying, or had studied at one of the two chosen universities. These participants were selected as a result of their status as international students, in addition to their Muslim or former Muslim identities. The results of the study revealed that many of the participants did experience a shift in their Muslim and/or cultural identity while studying at one of the two Midwestern universities. Furthermore, the results showed that many of the participants' shifts in their Muslim and/or cultural identity, were a result of studying at one of the two universities. The participants who experienced a shift in their Muslim and/or cultural identity appeared to all share in a similar process, which led them to their shift. In this process, the participants had to consider what the implications of their shift were, especially with regard to their home culture. This study shows that some international Muslim students may experience a unique shift in their Muslim and/or cultural identity as a result of studying at one of the two universities. This study also shows what contributes to these students' shifts, and what the implications of their shifts are, especially as they relate to their home culture.
Bruce Collet, PhD (Advisor)
Hyeyoung Bang , PhD (Committee Member)
Russell Mills, PhD (Committee Member)
148 p.
Higher Education; Islamic Studies; Religion; Spirituality
religious identity; cultural identity; international students; Muslim students; spiritual identity formation; religious identity formation; higher education; student development theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Erickson, B. T. (2014). Discerning Identity: A Grounded Theory of International Muslim and Former Muslim Students' Shifts in Religious and Cultural Identity at Two Midwestern Universities [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395408848

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Erickson, Brett. Discerning Identity: A Grounded Theory of International Muslim and Former Muslim Students' Shifts in Religious and Cultural Identity at Two Midwestern Universities. 2014. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395408848.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Erickson, Brett. "Discerning Identity: A Grounded Theory of International Muslim and Former Muslim Students' Shifts in Religious and Cultural Identity at Two Midwestern Universities." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1395408848

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.