View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by SHAREOK repository HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN BELIZE: A GRID AND GROUP EXPLANATION By KENT LEO ARZU Bachelor of Arts in English Education University of Belize Belize City, Belize 2000 Master of Arts in Educational Leadership University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida 2005 Master of Arts in Secondary Education University of North Florida Jacksonville, Florida 2005 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION July, 2012 HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN BELIZE: A GRID AND GROUP EXPLANATION COMMITTEE Dissertation Approved: Dr. Edward Harris Committee Chair Dr. Mwavita Marumba Dissertation Advisor Dr. Mary Jo Self Dr. Tami Moore Dr. Sheryl A. Tucker Dean of the Graduate College ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY...…………………………………………………………1 Statement of the Problem………………………………………………………………………….2 Purpose of the Study………………………………………………………………………………2 Research Questions………………………………………………………………………………..2 Epistemological Perspective………………………………………………………………………3 Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………………………………3 Procedures…………………………………………………………………………………………4 Researcher Bias…………………………………………………………………………………...5 Setting and Participants……………………………………………………………………………5 Data Collection…………………………………………………………………………………....5 Grid and Group Assessment Tool…………………………………………….…………..6 Interviews……………………………………………………………………………….....6 Observations and ArtifactAnalysis......................................................................................6 Trustworthiness…………………………………………………………………………....7 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………….....8 Definition of Terms..........................................................................................................................8 Summary........................................................................................................................................11 II. LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................................12 Impact of Dropping out on Individual...........................................................................................12 Personal Factors Related to Dropping Out............................................................................…....17 Low Academic Acheivement.............................................................................................17 iii Chapter Page Absenteeism…………………………………………………………………………..….18 Alienation and Disengagement…………………………………………………………..19 Retention………………………………………………………………………………....22 Teenage Pregnancy………………………………………………………………………22 Behavior………………………………………………………………………………….23 Social Factors Relating to Student Dropout...................................................................................24 Family Influence on Dropouts……………………………………………………………….......25 Student Teacher Relationships and its Influence on Dropouts………………………………......26 Importance of Grid and Group to the Study..................................................................................26 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………........29 III. METHODOLOGY…………………………………………………………………………..30 Research Design…………………………………………………………………………….........30 Participants and Sample…………………………………………………………………….........30 Data Collection……………………………………………………………………………..........32 Interviews………………………………………………………………………….…….32 Observations…………………………………………………………………..…………34 Documents.........................................................................................................................35 Use and Importance of Standards in Naturalistic Studies….....…………………………………35 Trustworthiness…………………………………………..………………………………35 Prolonged Engagement…………………………......……………………………………38 Persistent Observation…………………………………………......…………………….39 Triangulation………………………………………..……………………………………39 iv Peer Debriefing………………………………………………..…………………………39 Member Checking………………………………………………..………………………40 Reflexive Journals……………………………………………..…………………………40 Thick Description……………………………………………..………………………….40 Audit Trail……………………………………………………..…………………………40 Data Analysis……………………………………………………………………………….........41 Summary……………………………………………………………………………………........41 IV. NARRATIVEPORTRAITS.............................................................................................…...43 Context: St. Thomas High School….............................................................................................43 Students, Staff and Programs.............................................................................................45 Research Participants..............................................................................................................…...46 Mr. Elrington......................................................................................................................47 Mr. Francisco.....................................................................................................................48 Mr. Cruz.............................................................................................................................51 Dr. Joseph..........................................................................................................................53 Ms. Sanchez.......................................................................................................................54 Mr. Mendez........................................................................................................................57 Activities and Interactions….........................................................................................................61 Critical Incidence...............................................................................................................62 Rude Student..........................................................................................................62 Attention to the Buzzer......................................................................................................63 Context: Columbus High School...................................................................................................60 Students, Staff and Programs at Columbus High School..................................................62 v Chapter.......................................................................................................................................Page Research Participants..................................................................................................…...63 Dr. Figaroa.............................................................................................................64 Ms. Gonzalez.........................................................................................................65 Ms. Sandoval..........................................................................................................65 Ms. Torres..............................................................................................................67 Mr. Johnson...........................................................................................................69 Mr. Vejerano..........................................................................................................70 Activities and Interactions.............................................................................................................76 Critical Incidences.............................................................................................................78 The Communique........................................................................................….......79 Drop Out Data...............................................................................................................................80 Summary…....................................................................................................................................74 V. DATA ANALYSIS..................................................................................................................84 Drop Out Data................................................................................................................................84 Grid and Group Assessment Tool Responses………………………………………………........87 St. Thomas High School (Bureaucratic-High Grid; High Group)………….…………………....88 Grid Continuum: High Grid the Results of the Grid and Group Assessment Tool……...89 Group Continuum: High Group………………………………………………………….89 St. Thomas High School Cultural Context and Participants……………………………..............91 Grid Considerations……………………………………………………………………...91 Group Considerations………………………………………………………………........94 Activities and Interactions: Dropouts at St. Thomas High School Grid Consideration................96 vi Group Consideration……………………………………………………………………..97 Columbus High School (Individualistic: Weak Grid/Weak Group)…………………………….99 Results of the Culture Awareness Quectionnaire.............................................................99 Grid and Group Questions……………………………………………………………...100 Group Continuum (Weak Group)………………………………………………………101 Columbus High School Context and Participants……………………………………………....101 Grid Consideration……………………………………………………………………...102 Group Consideration……………………………………………………………………104 Activities and Interactions Grid Considerations………………………………………………..106 Group Consideration…………………………………………………………………………....106 Columbus High School