Graduation date: 1952

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Research grant proposals are a very important genre in many academic disciplines, and a window into which we are able to observe academic engagements and interactions. However, there has been little textual analysis of the genre and research on how successful scholars approach the writing task. Drawing on the social constructionist genre scholarship, this study collected and analyzed nine successful SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada) research grant proposals from nine professors in the field of education at a Canadian university. The proposals were examined in terms of three important textual features: generic structure, referential behavior, hedges and boosters. Semi-structured discourse-based interviews with the nine professors as insider informants were also conducted. The main findings of the study include the following: (1) A three-move scheme was developed in this study as reflecting the generic structure of research grant proposal summaries. In analyzing the main text of research grant proposals, I first recognized the ICMC pattern (Introduction-Context-Methodology-Communication of Results) as the overall structure; ten moves as the constitutive functional components were then identified under this pattern. (2) Non-integral (where the name of the cited author does not appear in the actual citing sentence), non-reporting (where no reporting verb such as show, establish, suggest is employed to introduce the cited work), and generalization (where the proposition is attributed to two or more sources) forms of citations were found to be predominantly used in the research grant proposals. Self-citation was also used with a high frequency in this genre. 3) The use of boosters was found to exceed the use of hedges, and the distribution of hedges and boosters were found uneven across the rhetorical sections. Interviews with the nine professors further reveal how communicative purposes, institutional practice, and reader-writer relationship co-constructed the format as well as the stylistic features of grant writing. The study provides genre analysts as well as novice grant writers some useful insights into the research grant proposal writing.

While educators have recognized that students from other countries often face traumatic experiences in their initial period of adaptation to the receiving country's schools and society, little attention has been devoted to understanding the nature or educational significance of these experiences. Traditionally, educators have equated adaptation difficulties with host language deficits, while other, possibly more consequential dimensions of the adaptation experience have gone unrecognized, and have not been represented in educational policy and funding decisions. Accordingly, this study is directed toward providing a more comprehensive understanding of the adaptation experiences of adolescent students who have recently arrived in Canada from other countries, and addresses a critical need for understanding these experiences from the perspectives of the students themselves. Inquiry is advanced within a descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory study which predominantly utilizes a phenomenological, qualitative methodology. The study's principal methodology builds upon Edmund Husserl's philosophical foundation by incorporating the existential perspectives of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, the life-world social dimensions of Alfred Schutz, and the historical-contextual and interpretive elements of Max van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology. Fieldwork occurred over a six month period in a suburban Canadian secondary school. Study findings and recommendations derive from analysis of interviews, observations, and self-reports of three male and three female grade 10 students who arrived in Canada not more than 20 months prior to the outset of the study. Initial adaptation experiences of study participants point to three principal findings. The study's finding that despite adaptation challenges, students from abroad often achieve at or above receiving society norms within a short period after arrival, suggests that educators should consider how successful academic patterns of newcomers might be adopted by receiving society members. Participant experience indicates that host language acquisition is but one dimension of a multidimensional adaptation experience, and that it is seldom the student's most critical adaptation concern, even in terms of host communication skills. Participants experienced establishing friendships as their most critical and difficult adaptation concern, and looked to friendship to provide uncertainty reduction, access to and inclusion in the receiving society.

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand how children within a Canadian Czech diasporic context, create and discover their Czech heritage language and culture through meaningful active participation in areas provided within the constructs of a non traditional setting such as a summer camp. Five contextual areas of the camp were identified and studied. The areas are: activities, food, camp counselors, staff dynamics and location. Braziel and Mannur (2003) and Rampton's (1990) aspects of "language inheritance" and "language affiliation" inform the analysis.

The central problem of this dissertation is the acculturation of Barbadian agriculture laborers who seasonally work in Canada. Several years ago, the author became aware of the squalid conditions in which Barbadian migrants worked. As he formed his opinion of Canada's rural slums or field ghettos he increasingly became concerned with what these rural slums meant to the migrants.This interest lead to a focus on acculturation processes and a very careful study of the Barbadian value system and how those values were related to the life style Barbadians could pursue by continuing to work in Canada. Acculturation was examined within the contexts of culture, social structure, and personality. Social structure refers to patterns of group formation and factors responsible for such patterns. Culture refers to values and ideas held by people, while personality is conceived in terms of the emotional and psychic processes of individual persons. Acculturation is frequently viewed as a process which occurs when two or more previously separated cultures come into a patterned form of contact to a degree sufficient to produce significant changes in either or both societies. In this study acculturation was utilized in a somewhat different sense, since the author looked at a situation where a selected group of Barbadian agriculture workers had sporadic but patterned and ongoing contact as a consequence of seasonal labor migration. With respect to this study acculturation means the acceptance and internalization by the migrant worker of a set of Canadian beliefs and values and thus the modification of the migrants' customary behavior.This customary behavior is based upon five dominant and traditional Barbadian male values which include having and caring for a wife and family, keeping girl friends, owning the land on which his house is situated, owning the house and working. The degree to which Barbadian workers internalize specific Canadian values, primarily the work ethic, was analyzed in relation to these Barbadian values.This was accomplished by conducting intensive interviews in Canada and in Barbados with fifteen Barbadian agriculture workers. Through questionnaires and by participant observation, cultural data and personality data were collected. These data fell into several classes such as biographies, genealogies, household family information, aspiration levels, attitudes towards sexuality, religion, the work ethic, world leaders, entertainers, music, work skills, philosophy of man and conceptions of present and ultimate success.The author demonstrated through two analytical perspectives, namely a systems explanation and an actor oriented explanation that two models of acculturation emerge for Bajan agriculture workers who seasonally are employed in Canada. One group of migrants shows a significant degree of acculturation. These individuals have internalized the Canadian work ethic; rejected the major traditional Bajan values concerning women; have few dependents and these dependents require a minimal demand on resource allocation; become decision makers since they hold a high social position and are culturally and structurally flexible; play a nonkin and universalistic role in life; and develop into entrepreneurs.The other migrants in the author's opinion show little acculturation. These individuals have rejected the Canadian work ethic; adhered to the traditional male value system; have many dependents and these dependents require a maximum demand on resource allocation; are structured since they hold a high social position and are culturally and structurally inflexible; play a kin-oriented and particularistic role in life; and remain employees.

Recent years have witnessed the large number of Chinese immigrants in Canada. With the coming of those immigrants is the large number of school age children. Hence, immigrant families' educational expectations and parental participation in their children's schools become major educational concerns. This study focuses on recent Chinese immigrants' expectations of and concerns about their children's schooling. / Drawing from Bourdieu's cultural capital theory and Ogbu's social mobility theory, in this study, I used a qualitative interview methodology to explore the educational expectations and school involvement of five Chinese parents who had recently immigrated to Canada. The educational expectations for their children and school participation of these Chinese immigrants are deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and heritage and are also greatly shaped by their personal experiences in Canada. Their cultural values and beliefs and immigration experiences as visible minorities have had a great impact on their educational expectations. Language barriers and different cultural values between dominant mainstream and Chinese traditions are the two main factors that hinder immigrant parents' participation in school activities and hence in their children's schooling.

Few qualitative and quantitative studies of multicultural, multiracial leadership programs, or simply MLPs, have been undertaken. This qualitative study is based upon a case study methodology. A comparison of one school board's MLP with similar MLPs offered by other local boards of education is offered. A description and analysis of contemporary Canadian social, cultural, political, and linguistic diversity establishes the context in which these programs are set. A number of different definitions of terms associated with multiculturalism are discussed. Multiculturalism is based upon five general principles: (1) the retention and development of cultures, (2) the sharing of cultures, (3) the development of positive, equitable, and participatory individual and intergroup relations, (4) the respect and observance of human rights and civil liberties, and, (5) equality and equity. Education programs, policies and actions, including MLPs, are based upon some or all of the principles of multiculturalism. The design and implementation of these programs is symbolic of the furtherevolution of multicultural education from a systemic approach within education to a specific curriculum strategy. Within the thesis, a number of conclusions are reached. First, the full implementation of equality and equity within the Canadian society requires greater emphasis; policies, programs and actions which are designed to realize approach this ideal are mandatory. Second, greater access to government reports and materials is required. Third, the area of MLPs requires further investigation and analysis. Four, MLPs are based upon theory and field based strategies designed to increase tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of minority groups. Five, many MLPs share certain commonalities, but are modified according to individual school board needs and resources. Six, among the board level MLPs considered, the Ontario Multicultural, Multiracial Leadership Camp was highly influencial in the design and implementation of local school board camps. Seven, the MLP of the Board being studied requires modification; a number of models of multicultural leadership camps are offered as possible choices. / Education, Faculty of / Graduate

The purpose of this research study was threefold: to determine if a multicultural art program would have a positive effect on students' appreciation of their own art work, art from other cultures and attitudes towards other cultures. The program supported a multicultural view of art which emphasized the cultural similarities and values which were common to all students. A nonequivalent control-group design was used within a quasi-experimental framework. One grade eight class participated in the Multicultural Program while the other served as the control group. Both classes were pre- and posttested with the Borgardus Social Distance Scale and a Cultural Appreciation Measure to determine if there was an attitude or appreciation change as a result of the treatment. Student journals and a Journal Posttest also provided data for analysis and reflection. No significant statistical differences were found between experimental and control groups on the pre- and posttest. However, student journals and the Journal Posttest provided data to indicate a significant positive change in students' attitudes towards their own art and the art of other cultures. This was complemented by the researcher's journal which described the classroom proceedings. The results from the journals and the Journal Posttest indicate that teaching art through a multicultural perspective, which emphasizes the similarities across cultures, can change attitudes about art. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

The purpose of the present study was to provide an understanding of the educator-learner relationship in distance education and then to identify and discuss parts of that relationship associated with dropout. Its underlying assumption was that education, at a distance or face-to-face, involves an educator-learner relationship. There were three justifications for this investigation: to illuminate the educator-learner relationship, to contribute to research on dropout in distance education, and to foster integration between practice and scholarship in the field. The scope of the first research question, what characterizes educator-learner relationships in distance education? necessitated drawing on a broad data base and suggested an interpretive study. The research method chosen was an integrative review of scholarly literature in the field of distance education. In answer to the first research question, the educator-learner relationship in distance education was conceptualized as a wheel with an axle of dialogue, spokes of support, and a rim of independence. The development of this model was the most important result of the present study. Concern among practitioners over high attrition rates led to the second part of the purpose and the second research question, what characteristics of the educator-learner relationship in distance education are associated with dropout? In answer to this question, findings from the dropout literature were filtered through the model of the educator-learner relationship in distance education. Tinto’s research into dropout from higher education informed the analysis. Results indicated that perceived deficiencies in dialogue along the spokes of support in the quadrants of learning and instruction have been associated with dropout. This study recognized that the relationship between educator and learner affects student perceptions of intellectual and social integration and so may influence dropout. Recommendations for research and practice were generated from the model of the educator-learner relationship in distance education. Presence at a distance can be enhanced by a dialogue-centred practice. Suggestions included the tracking of students, professional development for practitioners, and evaluations of distance education practice based on the model of the educator-learner relationship in distance education. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate