Doctor Of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Rosemary Talab / The purpose of this study was to learn the perceived training needs of the support staff in the six Kansas Board of Regents’ (KBOR) university libraries. Based on data from field and pilot studies and advice from an expert panel, a survey instrument was designed to assess library support staff’s perceptions of their train needs on computer skills, interpersonal skills, supervision/management skills, important library/organizational support, helpful training delivery methods, and training sources. The survey instrument was administered to the entire 167 support staff in the six KBOR university libraries, with a return rate of 83 percent achieved through two mailings and two postcard reminders. Quantitative data from the responses to closed-ended questions were analyzed through descriptive measures and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Qualitative approaches to code answers from open-ended questions were utilized in order to allow stakeholder themes to emerge. Quantitative analyses indicated that the respondents viewed the most important training topics for each area of the study to be: database searching and MS Office suites for computer skills; working with difficult people and managing priorities for interpersonal skills; training new employees and supervising student employees for supervision/management skills; being supplied with appropriate software, release time, and technical support were viewed as the most important library support that would help their training. The respondents perceived classroom instruction with a teacher and interactive classroom discussions as being the most helpful delivery methods. The respondents considered in-house trainers, supervisors, and co-workers as being the most helpful training sources. A series of MANOVA tests were conducted on the six areas of the study. At the alpha = .05 level, statistically significant differences were found in the respondents’ perceptions of training needs on computer skills measured by their work units, supervision/management skills measured by their work units and level of job responsibilities, the respondents’ perceptions of important library/organizational support measured by their total years in the library filed and age range, and the respondents’ perceptions of helpful training sources measured by their total years at current positions. Qualitative analyses provided 314 units of information on 32 themes on additional training topics, library/organizational support, delivery methods, and training sources. The top 10 themes were related to “Software programs,” “Windows operating systems,” “Release time,” “Supervisor/management support,” “Relevance/applicable training,” “Promotion/opportunities,” “Training for motivation,” “Classroom with feedback,” “Training materials,” and “One-on-one and in-house training.” Based on the findings, summaries, and conclusions of this study, the researcher made recommendations for further study that focuses on job training needs of support staff at university libraries, including a broader scope of training topics, motivating factors, the perceptions of library administrators on the support staff’s training needs, training needs on supervision/management for non-supervision support staff, differing views on library/organizational support, different training delivery methods, etc.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Educational Leadership / W. Franklin Spikes / The purpose of this study was to further develop an understanding of the nature of the adaptation process of adult first generation students to the undergraduate college experience. This study utilized the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) in conjunction with personal interviews to explore whether first generation adult college students adapt differently to college than do their continuing generation peers and if there is a commonality of experience, across demographic differences, for first generation, adult college students. Fifty-five adult college freshmen were surveyed using the SACQ. From this sample, sixteen first generation volunteers were interviewed regarding their college experience. T-test analysis of the SACQ scores showed that the first generation students were not adjusting to college as well as their continuing generation peers on the overall measure to adjustment and on three of the four subscales. The personal interviews indicated that while there was variation in the first generation students’ adaptation with seven of the sixteen volunteers classified as adjusting poorly to college, three with mixed adjustment, and five with good adjustment, there were also commonalities in the students’ experience, regardless how well they were adjusting to college. Eleven meta themes emerged from the interview data, and these themes correlated with characteristics of nonpersisters as compiled by Kasworm, Polson, and Fishback (2002). This research indicated that further investigation into adult first generation college students is appropriate especially with regard to how these adults view themselves as role models. In addition, this study indicates a need for future research into the links between adult students’ first generation status and persistence problems in their college experience.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Jacqueline D. Spears / The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between demographic and educational variables, epistemological beliefs as measured by Schommer’s Epistemological Questionnaire (SEQ), and learner perception of selfdirectedness as measured by Guglielmino’s Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS). Participants in this study were undergraduate adult students at a private university in the Midwest region of the United States (N=394). The instruments were administered online during regularly scheduled courses. Data were analyzed at the p<.05 level of significance using Pearson product-moment correlations, factor analysis, stepwise multiple regression, and other statistical techniques. Results of this research included several significant correlations between demographic and educational variables, SEQ factors, and SDLRS total and factor scores. The educational variables of class standing, exposure to the humanities, and exposure to the social sciences significantly correlated with five SDLRS and SEQ total and factor scores. The greatest number of correlations occurred between SEQ factor 2, thinking for yourself is a waste of time, and the SDLRS factors of openness to learning opportunities, view of self as an effective and independent learner, independence and initiative in learning, responsibility for learning, and creativity. Other significant correlations with SEQ factors and SDLRS total and factor scores included age, gender, race, marital status, mother’s and father’s education level, credit earned through independent studies, cohort or non-cohort program type, grade point average, and exposure to learning contracts. Significant findings from the correlations of demographic and educational variables (p<.002) and SEQ factors (p<.05) with SDLRS total scores were entered into a stepwise multiple regression. One educational variable and three SEQ factors accounted for 25.7% of the variance in SDLRS total scores. Several suggestions for the development of expanded empirical and theoretical research initiatives and the improvement of practice were offered. This research provided a clear and compelling rationale for the establishment of adult degree programs which are grounded in the liberal arts, include both career and personal development activities, and allow for increased opportunities for learner self-direction to occur. These elements are necessary to build what Kegan (1994) called a developmental bridge for adult learners.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / F. Todd Goodson / Professional development of in-service teachers continues to increase, but not all programs are successful in promoting teacher learning and student improvement. This qualitative study offers an examination of how one professional development program, The National Writing Project, with its teachers-teaching-teachers model is making a difference. The National Writing Project is one of the longest running, most cost-efficient, and most successful professional development programs in education. The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing teacher transformation. Five areas were addressed: (1) the identification of transformation factors; (2) the relationship of personal literacy as it affects professional change; (3) being a member of a learning community and how it affects personal learning; (4) being a member of a learning community and how it affects professional learning; and (5) the role of spirituality in transformation. The setting was the National Writing Project's Invitational Summer Institute as it examined how fellows, first time participants, perceived their learning. Participants were from 17 different writing project sites across the United States. Data collection involved three distinct sources: (1) selection of participant and rationale provided by site directors of writing project sites; (2) audio-taped long interviews of each participant; and, (3) a follow-up focus group conducted in an electronic discussion board. The findings highlighted an interweaving of five factors influencing teacher transformation: (1) identification and application of knowledge for self and students; (2) reflection of learning and practice; (3) collaboration; (4) active and on-going involvement; and, (5) supportive and safe environment. When these five transformative factors are designed and implemented in the professional development of teacher in-service, teachers are provided an opportunity to personally learn which leads to professional learning and improved instruction for student learning. Excerpts from each data collection, recommendations for future research, and appendices to replicate the study are provided.

L’intégration linguistique et sociale des apprenants adultes issus de l’immigration a fait l’objet d’un nombre significatif de recherches depuis plusieurs années. Les recherches antérieures ont déjà identifié les facteurs facilitants et contraignants qui influencent le processus d’intégration linguistique et sociale de ces apprenants. En cohérence avec ces processus qui concernent les nouveaux arrivants au Québec, cette étude porte sur l’intégration linguistique et sociale des étudiants internationaux d’origine iranienne inscrits aux cycles supérieurs dans le contexte montréalais. Notre premier objectif spécifique de recherche était d’analyser les dimensions de leur socialisation linguistique, et le second était d’étudier leur intégration linguistique dans ses principales dimensions. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons mené une recherche qualitative exploratoire auprès de dix étudiants internationaux d’origine iranienne qui fréquentaient un établissement universitaire montréalais. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé les témoignages de nos participantes et participants à l’aide du logiciel NVIVO. Or, nos résultats suggèrent ce qui a déjà été identifié dans la littérature (Piché et Bélanger, 1995), à savoir que trois facteurs influencent le processus d’intégration linguistique des apprenants adultes issus de l’immigration : 1- l’âge de l’individu au moment de son immigration ; 2- sa connaissance du français ; 3- les attributs culturels (aspect motivationnel). Les témoignages de nos participantes et participants démontrent l’importance de ces facteurs au sein de leur processus d’intégration linguistique dans la société québécoise, laquelle est majoritairement francophone. À la lumière des résultats de cette recherche, nous ajouterons trois nouveaux facteurs à ceux qui ont déjà été identifiés : 4- le statut d’immigration ; 5- les contraintes du temps liées aux études supérieures ; 6- les facteurs d’ordre politique (la réforme du PEQ) et structurel (la discrimination linguistique). Nos résultats ont révélé que le statut d’immigration et la réforme du PEQ sont deux facteurs primordiaux qui influencent grandement le processus d’intégration linguistique et sociale de notre échantillon. Nous proposerons aussi des pistes de recherche pour explorer davantage ces deux facteurs, et ce, afin d’aider la communauté étudiante internationale du Québec à réussir son intégration au sein de cette société d’accueil. / The linguistic and social integration of adults who learn a language in the context of their immigration has been a topic of research for several years now. Though previous research has identified enabling and constraining factors that influence the linguistic and social integration of adult learners with an immigrant background, we chose to focus on the linguistic and social integration of newcomers to Quebec, and more specifically to that of international students of Iranian origin undertaking graduate studies in a Montreal university. As per our first specific research objective, we analyzed the various dimensions of their linguistic socialization, while our second objective led us to study their linguistic integration. We sought results through a qualitative exploratory research with a sample of ten international graduate students of Iranian origin attending a Montreal university. Using NVIVO software, we analyzed the participants' answers and testimonials. Research results suggested the validity of the factors, already present in literature, that influence the linguistic integration process of adult learners with an immigrant background (Piché et Belanger, 1995). These factors are: 1- the age of the individual at the time of immigration; 2- their knowledge of the French language; 3- their cultural attributes (motivational aspect). Responses taken from our sample show the impact of these factors on the linguistic integration process of such students in the context of Quebec's French-speaking society. Our research results have enabled us to go further, adding to these three new factors: 4- the immigration status; 5- time constraints due to student workload in higher education; 6- political (the reform of the PEQ) and structural (linguistic discrimination) factors. Our research shows that the status of immigration and the PEQ reform are the two main factors that, in graduate programs in Montreal universities, significantly influence the linguistic and social integration of international Iranian students. In our final recommendations, we will suggest that research further explore integration issues linked to these two factors, so that future international students may have more success integrating in Quebec society.

Les personnes immigrantes font face à de multiples défis lorsqu’ils s’établissent dans une société d’accueil. Pour certains d’entre eux, apprendre une langue additionnelle sera l’un de ces défis. Dans le cadre de ce mémoire, nous nous intéressons à l’apprentissage du français comme langue additionnelle chez des parents issus de l’immigration qui ont de jeunes enfants, puisque ces parents disposent généralement de moins de temps que les parents d’enfants plus vieux (Bradbury, 2008), ce qui peut constituer un obstacle à leur apprentissage de la langue de la société d’accueil. En outre, nous avons constaté que la réussite scolaire de leur enfant était au coeur du projet migratoire de plusieurs parents issus de l’immigration (Charette, 2016, 2018). Nous avons également remarqué des lacunes dans les connaissances scientifiques en lien avec les apprentissages langagiers que pouvaient réaliser des parents qui participaient à des activités de littératie familiale plurilingues avec leur enfant, donc nous avons décidé d’évaluer l’apprentissage du vocabulaire de ces parents dans un tel contexte. Le vocabulaire, qui est la base de la communication (Dodigovic et Agustín Llach, 2020) constitue un élément essentiel pour la compréhension (Billard et al., 2010; Nation, 2000) et serait encore plus important que la connaissance de la grammaire pour l’apprentissage d’une langue additionnelle (Meara, 1992). Nous avons donc mis en oeuvre une intervention visant l’apprentissage du vocabulaire chez des parents immigrants qui sont aussi parents de jeunes enfants (enfants inscrits à la maternelle 4 ans plus spécifiquement). À l’aide de deux épreuves, toutes deux réalisées en prétest et en posttest, nous avons pu démontrer que les parents-participants réalisaient des apprentissages liés au vocabulaire après notre intervention. Plus précisément, après l’intervention, ils ont été en mesure de produire davantage d’unités lexicales et de mieux définir, expliquer et exemplifier le vocabulaire ciblé, ce qui était également lié à leur présence aux activités de littératie familiale plurilingues. / Immigrants face numerous challenges when they settle in a new society, and for some of them, learning an additional language is one of those. In this thesis, we focus on French learning as an additional language among immigrant parents with young children. These parents generally have less time, compared to parents of older children, which can be an obstacle to their language learning in the host society (Bradbury, 2008). Furthermore, we observe that the academic success of their children was central in the migratory project of many immigrant parents (Charrette, 2016, 2018). We also noted a gap in scientific knowledge regarding the language learning assessement of parents engaged in multilingual family literacy activities with their children. Consequently, we decided to assess the vocabulary learning of these parents in such a context. Vocabulary, being the base of communication (Dodigovic et Agustín Llach, 2020), is crucial for comprehension (Billard et al., 2010; Nation, 2000), and may be even more critical than grammar knowledge for learning an additional language (Meara, 1992). Thus, we implemented an intervention targeting the vocabulary learning of immigrant parents of young children (specifically of four-year-old kindergarten). Using non-standardized tools (two examinations, both conducted as a pre and post-tests) we demonstrated that the participating parents had learned some vocabulary after our intervention. Specifically, after this intervention, they were able to produce more lexical units, and give better definitions, explanations, and examples of the targeted vocabulary. This improvement was also associated with their participation in multilingual family literacy activities.

Using a critical feminist approach, and with attention to participants’ broad life experiences, this qualitative study explores seven women’s challenging, transformative decisions to give birth at home with midwives in Ontario, Canada. To make this choice, the women had to draw on their own strength, take responsibility for their decisions, and resist the dominant view of birth as inherently risky, and of women’s birth experiences as unimportant and incompatible with more narrowly defined good outcomes. As participants became informed decision-makers, resisted medicalized birth, and envisioned more woman-centred possibilities, they were empowered as active agents in their births. They were able to trust that with the care of their midwives, and the support of their partners or close family, they could have satisfying and safe births at home.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Educational Leadership / Sarah Jane Fishback / A new group of learners is emerging in the adult learning environment as a result of the United States being at war for more than 10 years. More than two million warriors served in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Educational institutions across the United States are experiencing growing numbers of students who are military combat veterans of the GWOT. These numbers will continue to grow as more of them transition back into life after combat. These students are arriving in class with varying levels of combat trauma experience and possibly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), major depression, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or a combination of these and other difficulties. The purpose of this research was to learn from military veteran students how their combat experience affects them in the classroom. Specifically it looked at the types of combat experiences they have and the types of physical and mental effects they report experiencing while attending and participating in educational learning activities. This research h sought to gain insight into how combat experience influences the learning experience for GWOT military combat veterans who participate in an educational learning environment. It explored the types of experiences these students bring into that learning environment and how their participation in learning activities is affected.

In April 2005, a group of women gathered for a human rights workshop at a Toronto drop-in centre for women experiencing homelessness, poverty, and isolation. One year later, the group sent a representative to address the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This dissertation describes and analyzes the feminist participatory action research-intervention project that began with the workshop and led to the United Nations. Over the course of 15 months, more than 50 participants attended weekly meetings at the drop-in. They learned about social and economic rights, testified about their experiences of human rights violations, and planned and undertook actions to respond to and resist homelessness. This thesis draws upon observations of meetings, documents produced by the group, and interviews with thirteen of the participants, in order to examine the project from a number of angles. First, the project suggests a new understanding of women’s homelessness: testimonies and interviews reveal that homelessness is not only a material state, but more importantly a social process of disenfranchisement enacted through relations of harm, threat, control, surveillance, precarity and dehumanization. Understanding homelessness as a social process enables an analysis of its operations within and for a dominant social and economic order structured by colonization and neoliberal globalization. Secondly, the thesis takes up participants’ assessments of the project’s political effectiveness and its impacts on their well-being and empowerment, and reads these against the researcher’s experiences with the project, in order to explore how feminist participatory methodologies can contribute to resistance. Finally, the thesis concludes with recommendations for theory, research, service provision, and human rights advocacy on women’s homelessness.

My research studies immigrants’ learning experiences as socially organized practices. Informed by the sociocultural approach of learning and institutional ethnography, I treat learning as a material and relational phenomenon. I start by examining how fourteen Chinese immigrants learn to fit into the engineering market in Canada. I then trace the social discourses and relations that shape immigrants’ learning experiences, particularly their changing perceptions and practices and personal and professional investments. I contend that immigrants’ learning is produced through social processes of differentiation that naturalize immigrants as a secondary labour pool, which is dismissible and desirable at the same time. My investigation unfolds around four areas of learning. The first is related to immigrants’ self-marketing practices. I show that core to immigrants’ marketing strategies is to speak to the skill discourse or employers’ skill expectations at the “right” time and place. The skill discourse, I argue, is culturally-charged and class-based. It cloaks a complex of hiring relations where “skill” is discursively constructed and differentially invoked to preserve the privilege and power of the dominant group. The second area is immigrants’ work-related learning. I find that workplace training is part of the corporate agenda to organize work and manage workers. Amid this picture, workers’ opportunity to access corporate sponsorship for professional development is contingent on their membership within the engineering community. To expand their professional space, the immigrants resorted to learning and consolidating their knowledge in codes and standards, which serve as a textual organizer of engineering work. The third area is related to workplace communication. My participants reported an individualistic communication ‘culture’, which celebrates individual excellence and discourages close interpersonal relations. Such a perception, I argue, obscures the gender, race and class relations that privilege white and male power. It also leaves out the organizational relations, such as the project-based deployment of the engineering workforce that perpetuate individualistic communicative practices. My last area of investigation focuses on immigrants’ efforts to acquire Canadian credentials and professional licence. Their heavy learning loads direct my attention to the ideological and administrative licensure practices that valorize Canadian credentials and certificates to the exclusion of others.