Education and Human Sciences, College of (CEHS)

 

Date of this Version

12-2013

Document Type

Article

Citation

Goedeken, J.A. (2013). Perceptions of positive youth development experiences related to rural Hispanic youth academic success (Master's thesis). University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.

Comments

A THESIS presented to the Faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Child, Youth, and Family Studies. Under the Supervision of Professor Yan Xia. Lincoln, Nebraska: December, 2013.

Copyright (c) 2013 Jill Annaliese Goedeken

Abstract

Understanding the struggles rural Hispanic youth face academically, learning more about their perceptions of positive youth development experiences relating to their academic success connects the essence of the two experiences. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore rural Hispanic youths’ perceptions of positive youth development experiences as they relate to their academic success. The phenomenological design was chosen to explore the essence of the shared experiences of positive youth development experiences among rural Hispanic youth in the Columbus, Nebraska, community. To understand a possible perceived connection between positive youth development experiences to academic success, 28 Hispanic youth from Columbus, Nebraska, participated in focus groups. Study participants suggest a link between being involved in positive youth development opportunities and their academic performance, specifically in a positive way. Results from the study suggest rural Hispanic youth understand the skills needed in order to be successful. Additionally, they describe positive youth development experiences as a method to gain such skills, using terminology reflective of their experiences.

Adviser: Yan Xia

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