<p>Black women’s underrepresentation in STEM disciplines remains an urgent problem of major concern in higher education institutions across the United States. The purpose of this investigation was to explore Black women’s experiences in an active learning STEM Human Centered Design course at a Predominantly White Institution. It also examined how these experiences influenced Black women’s intent to persist in STEM educational pathways. Black Feminist Thought Theoretical Framework was used to conceptualize and interpret the experiences of five Black female first year undergraduate students at a Predominantly White Institution in the Midwestern region of the United States. This qualitative case study research utilized semi structured interviews, direct observations, and documents to gather and triangulate data for this study. The findings from this study revealed that: (a) <i>Imposter Syndrome: An Enduring Internalized Question of Competency, </i>(b) <i>Undermining of Academic Abilities</i>: <i>Cross Examination of Intellect,</i> (c) <i>Lack of Diversity: A Colorless Norm,</i> (d) <i>Isolation: Intrinsic Sensitivity of Separation from Others</i> were the salient experiences facing these five undergraduate Black women. This investigation contributes to the dearth of scholarship on Black women in STEM by highlighting their undergraduate experiences in a STEM course, and describing ways to ensure their persistence towards STEM educational pathways.</p>

Social exclusion in higher education can occur at multiple levels (e.g., systemic, institutional, interpersonal, individual), and individuals simultaneously hold multiple social identities that could influence their perceptions of academic climate. The current study utilized a mixed-methods convergent parallel design to explore the impact of multiple social identities, perceptions of academic climate, and the imposter phenomenon among psychology students. In the quantitative portion, participants (N = 142) completed an online survey related to gender centrality, academic climate, and imposter phenomenon. Gender group comparisons revealed that cisgender men indicated poorer perceptions of climate than cisgender women and gender minorities, but imposter phenomenon was higher among cisgender women and gender minorities than cisgender men. However, perceived academic climate did not mediate the relationship between gender and the imposter phenomenon nor did gender centrality moderate the indirect path of gender on imposter phenomenon through perceived academic climate. In the qualitative portion, participants (N = 14) provided insight, through semi-structured interviews, on the connectedness of perceived academic climate and imposter phenomenon based on the culmination of their multiple social identities. Six themes were identified through reflexive thematic analyses (1) benefits of psychology; 2) barriers of psychology; 3) privileged perspective; 4) stereotypic view of psychology; 5) imposter phenomenon connections; 6) enhancing and maintaining success). Integrated findings suggest a power shift within the context of psychology as individuals that hold traditionally subordinate social identities reported positive perceptions of academic climate, while individuals that hold traditionally dominant social identities perceived academic climate more poorly. However, positive perceptions of academic climate failed to combat the internalization of negative societal stereotypes of those in traditionally subordinate groups, which was associated with experiences of the imposter phenomenon. Future directions and implications for translating findings are discussed.

<p>While literature on sexual minority issues is limited, there is evidence supporting poor retention rate among lesbian, gay, and bisexual students (LGB) studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). STEM fields often have heterosexist environments that present unique barriers to LGB individuals, though, more must be done to understand factors that deter sexual minorities from entering and remaining in the field. I aim to contribute to the scarce LGB scholarship by examining the STEM climate and exploring factors related to persistence.</p><p> This dissertation is composed of two independent articles that each investigate the issue of underrepresentation of LGB individuals in STEM fields. The first article analyzes existing literature and calls on counseling psychologists to address the problem through using queer theory. I identify various factors that make sexual minorities a difficult population to research, note the additional challenges heterosexism creates for LGB individuals, and recommend counseling psychologists use queer theory to research the systems within STEM. I conclude with recommendations for clinicians and universities.</p> The second article includes an empirical study examining factors related to poor persistence in STEM among LGB undergraduates. Using a mediation model, I hypothesized burnout and the imposter phenomenon would mediate the relationships between stereotype threat and STEM identity, as well as the relationship between STEM identity and persistence. Results indicated stereotype threat was a significant positive predictor of burnout and imposter phenomenon, while STEM identity was a significant predictor of persistence. Results also suggested the effect of stereotype threat on STEM identity is explained better using burnout and imposter phenomenon.

Black women face barriers to higher education that include systemic racism and sexism that lead to self–doubt, discrimination, and familial and community support. They battle barriers to and within academia through the intersectionality of their sex and racial identity groups. As a response to the barriers they face in higher education, the purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Black women navigating a doctoral program in education at a California State University. To explore the experiences of the participants, I used a qualitative study with a Heideggerian phenomenological approach and a Black feminist lens. A three­–question interview, which asked about the application process, admissions process, and first–year experience was used to explore the experiences of five Black women at two California State University campuses. The results of this study could be used to address the racial and gender equity gaps within the California State University system.

This study examines the ratio between ability to learn and confidence in students in the online learning environment within two learning styles, Question-Based Learning (QBL) and Traditional Learning (TL), to be able to gain more insights of the phenomenon ‘Imposter Syndrome’. There isn't any previous research that analyzes the ability-confidence ratio for QBL or Traditional Learning in online learning environments so current insight of this is currently lacking. Also important to note that this study mainly only concerns itself with one of the Question-Based Learning strategies, namely that of repeated or regular self testing. In this study, both confidence and ability were measured across 4 subscales each in students at KTH in order to perform a correlation analysis between the subscales of the two learning styles. The aim is to gain insight into the relationship between confidence and abilities, which could be useful for teachers in assisting their students’ utilization of QBL and how it affects ‘imposter syndrome’. Data was gathered through a survey which was published on several forums for KTH students. The survey received 97 responses. The data was analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, which revealed a significant correlation between the subscales within confidence and ability for TL and QBL. The results show that a student’s ability to learn is strongly associated with their confidence in more Traditional Learning settings than with the QBL approach of self-testing. / Denna studie undersöker förhållandet mellan förmåga at lära sig och förtroende hos elever i online-lärmiljön inom två inlärningsstilar, Question-Based Learning (QBL) och Traditional Learning (TL), för att kunna få fler insikter om fenomenet "Imposter Syndrome". Det finns ingen tidigare forskning som analyserar ability-confidence ration för QBL eller Traditional Learning i online-inlärningsmiljöer så aktuell insikt om detta saknas för närvarande. Det är också viktigt att notera att denna studie huvudsakligen bara handlar om ett av QBL lärandestrategierna, nämligen upprepade eller regelbundna självtestningar. I denna studie mättes både confidence och ability över 4 delskalor vardera hos studenter vid KTH för att kunna utföra en korrelationsanalys mellan delskalorna för de två inlärningsstilarna. Syftet är att få insikt i sambandet mellan självförtroende och förmågor, vilket kan vara användbart för lärare för att hjälpa sina elever att använda QBL och hur det påverkar "imposter syndrome". Data samlades in genom en undersökning som publicerades på flera forum för KTH-studenter. Enkäten fick 97 svar. Data analyserades med Spearmans rangkorrelationsanalys, som visade en signifikant korrelation mellan delskalorna inom förtroende och kunskap för Traditional Learning och QBL. Resultaten visar att en students förmåga att lära sig är starkt förknippad med deras förtroende för mer Traditional Learning än med QBL-metoden för självtestning.

This study is a two-part manuscript dissertation that examined the relationships between academic resilience (perseverance, negative affect and emotional response, reflecting and adaptive help-seeking), wellness (spiritual, social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and psychological wellness), and imposter syndrome among first-generation graduate counseling students (FGGCS). Survey data from 172 FGGCS’s was analyzed using bivariate correlational and regression analyses to answer four primary research questions: (1) Is there a statistically significant correlation between FGGCS’s level of imposter syndrome and academic resilience, (2) Is there a statistically significant correlation between FGGCS’s level of imposter syndrome and perceived wellness, (3) Are FGGCS’s level of academic resilience and perceived wellness statistically significant predictors of imposter syndrome, (4) What is the relationship between age, gender, race, enrollment status, parental education status, and imposter syndrome while accounting for academic resilience and perceived wellness? The results indicated no significant correlation between academic resilience and imposter syndrome, and a moderate negative correlation between perceived wellness and imposter syndrome. Further analysis revealed emotional wellness as a significant predictor of imposter syndrome. No statistically significant differences in FGGCS level of imposter syndrome were predicted by varying demographic factors such as age, gender, race, enrollment status, and parental education status while accounting for academic resilience and perceived wellness. Implications for higher education stakeholders are discussed to support FGGCS mental health and retention.

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Self-handicapping is a psychological behavior people engage in to protect their self-image, project a desired image to others, and to augment feelings of success and achievement. Self-handicapping occurs when individuals have a positive but uncertain self-image about their competence in an arena of life fundamental to their self-identity. Musicians have been underrepresented in self-handicapping studies; yet the very competitive nature of their education and craft, the strong identification musicians have as musicians, and the frequent challenges during all phases of development to their abilities would suggest they are extremely vulnerable to developing self-handicaps. This dissertation discusses the theoretical components of self-handicapping, the personality traits typically exhibited by high self-handicappers, causes, types, and possible motivations for self-handicapping, short and long term effects of the behavior, and the implications these concepts have to the musician community. In addition, it contains the results of an extensive survey of musicians which examines self-handicapping tendencies, depression, imposter phenomenon, and self-esteem ratings to determine 1) if musicians self-handicap, 2) how the four constructs are related to each other within the musician population, 3) if other factors concerning musicians and self-handicapping are related, 4) areas for future research. Several significant relationships involving the four constructs tested, as well as a significant difference between the self-handicapping behaviors of professional and amateur players were found. In addition, it contains the results of an extensive survey of musicians which examines self-handicapping tendencies, depression, imposter phenomenon, and self-esteem ratings to determine 1) if musicians self-handicap, 2) how the four constructs are related to each other within the musician population, 3) if other factors concerning musicians and self-handicapping are related, 4) areas for future research. Several significant relationships involving the four constructs tested, as well as a significant difference between the self-handicapping behaviors of professional and amateur players were found.

This study intends to shine a light on the psychological phenomenon that is the imposter syndrome, and the role that the employer and human resource departments play in this condition. Based on theories and previous research about learning, competence, leadership and human resources we’ve intended to examine how employers need to consider the Swedish work environment law when handling employees with critical self-doubt in work-related situations. We’ve investigated which work-related situations the study's interview participants experience self-doubt and insecurity, by conducting qualitative interviews. Using their stories, the study has achieved a result that shows a correlation between the importance of genuine feedback, transparent communication, healthy organizational culture and the handling of work-related self-doubt. / Studien avser undersöka det psykologiska fenomenet bluffsyndromet och arbetsgivarens roll ihanteringen av dess symptom i det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetet. Utifrån teorier och tidigareforskning om bluffsyndromet, lärandets processer, kompetens, HR och ledarskap. Teorierna och dentidigare forskningen har ställts i relation till arbetsmiljölagen och det systematiska arbetsmiljöarbetetför att undersöka HR:s roll i frågan. Med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer har det undersökts i vilkaarbetsrelaterade situationer studiens intervjudeltagare upplever självtvivel och osäkerhet. Med hjälp avderas berättelser har studien uppnått ett resultat som visar korrelation mellan vikten av genuinfeedback, transparent kommunikation, sund organisationskultur och hanteringen av arbetsrelateratsjälvtvivel.

The study examined the impostor phenomenon among undergraduate and graduate students at a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). Participants were recruited from various undergraduate and graduate programs at a PWI located in Northeastern U.S. There were 414 participants, all of whom completed an online Qualtrics survey, which included measures on demographics, sense of belonging, impostor phenomenon, mindset, perceived social support, and depression. Results indicated a significantly positive relationship between impostor phenomenon and depression. Perceived social support and sense of belonging significantly moderated this relationship. Female and Other (Transgender, Non-Binary, and Non-Gender-Specified) participants experienced a significantly higher level of impostor feelings than Male participants. Asian and Other (African American, Hispanic, Latinx, Middle Eastern, Biracial, and Multiracial) participants experienced significantly lower levels of perceived social support than White participants, but did not experience significantly different levels of impostor phenomenon or sense of belonging compared to White participants. Lastly, there was no significant relationship between fixed mindset and impostor phenomenon. In light of these results, there are several recommendations for universities, including increasing the amount of support groups.