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Somali Students' Experiences in a Major University: A Qualitative Case Study

Abokor, Abdillahi H.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1470859703

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Education (EdD), Ohio University, Educational Administration (Education).
Research on Somali students’ experiences is very limited and has been focused mainly on school-age children rather than college students despite their increasing presence in U.S. higher education. So far little is known about the circumstances of those in postsecondary education. The purpose of this study was to explore Somali students’ experiences in a major U.S. university. It particularly investigated the challenges undergraduate Somali students face in college and the support they receive in order to cope with those challenges. A qualitative case study methodology was employed to examine the lived experiences of ten students who participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews, which were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Findings of the study indicate that Somali students encounter many obstacles in college. The study also found that students cope with their challenges in various ways by drawing support from their institution, family, peers, faith and community, who provide them remarkable social capital and resilience. Findings will have implications for both practice and policy by providing an understanding of the obstacles Somali students encounter in U.S. colleges, as well as directions for future research. They will also be significant for research in that they will contribute to the literature by addressing the existing knowledge gap. Recommendations were made in light of the outcomes of the study in terms of ways that could be helpful for students to overcome their challenges.
Emmanuel Jean Francois (Committee Chair)
Mona Robinson (Committee Member)
Bill Larson (Committee Member)
Edna Wangui (Committee Member)
153 p.
Education; Educational Leadership; Higher Education Administration
Somali Students; Minority Students; Student Experience in College; Challenges in Higher Education; Barriers in College; Educational Studies; Educational Leadership

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Abokor, A. H. (2016). Somali Students' Experiences in a Major University: A Qualitative Case Study [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1470859703

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Abokor, Abdillahi. Somali Students' Experiences in a Major University: A Qualitative Case Study. 2016. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1470859703.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Abokor, Abdillahi. "Somali Students' Experiences in a Major University: A Qualitative Case Study." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1470859703

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1470859703
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.