Department of Educational Administration
Date of this Version
Spring 5-2012
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and compare the joining experiences of women in Traditional Greek Sororities and Latina-Based Greek Sororities at a Midwestern Predominantly White Institution (PWI). In this study, experience was based on how the students learned about Greek life, the process of joining the sorority, the expectations students had of their sororities, and whether or not the participants would have joined the sorority if they had known what they knew about sorority life at the time of their interviews. There were eleven participants who were interviewed as part of the research. The participants were currently enrolled students who are in Traditional Greek sororities and Latina-Based Greek sororities. Based on their interviews, the findings provided direct answers to the research questions as the research questions were incorporate as part of the interview protocol. The findings provided some evidence to show how these sorority members learned about Greek Life in a similar manner, joined for some of the same reasons, had expectations that were met, and learned and grew as a person as part of joining the sorority. But more importantly gave an understanding that sorority members may have a similar joining experience regardless of what sorority they are joining. Also, the Strange and Banning theoretical framework was considered as part of the research, which can be useful as college and universities assess their activities on campus. Lastly, the research generated suggestions for future researchwe move forward on learning more about sororities and how they fit into the campus life.
Adviser: James Griesen
Included in
Higher Education Administration Commons, Student Counseling and Personnel Services Commons
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 Arts, Major: Educational Administration, Under the Supervision of Professor James Griesen. Lincoln, Nebraska: May 2012
Copyright (c) 2012 Lorena Zamarripa-Lovo