Psycho-Social and Academic Readiness for Health and Human Service Education
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Date
2010-04-13T18:26:46Z
Authors
Criss, Daniel
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Abstract
This qualitative study investigated the educational experiences of first year human
service diploma students at the Truro campus of the Nova Scotia Community College. The
focus group inquiry provided a research approach whereby students, faculty and the center
for student success personnel and academic chairs could engage the moderator and each other
in making meaning of students' motives, expectations and readiness for pursuing human
service education.
The study examined the psychosocial and academic readiness of first year students to
engage immediately is critical discourse regarding human needs, society and self. This
inquiry also explored whether a parallel existed between psychosocial identity status and
lived experiences of students. Multiple factors of readiness were considered in order to
assess the extent to which these psychosocial factors impact the quality of learning, levels of
success and goal attainment of individual learners. Disclosures, shared experiences and
perspective taking of focus group participants generated similar and distinct themes revealing
the complexity of psychosocial readiness unique to each student. Identified themes included
motivations for enrolling in the program, learning demands of the first year, student
perceptions, expectations and success among others. A second layer of analysis revealed
examples of Marcia's identity statuses from the student focus group data (Marcia, 1991).
The results will serve to educate the public about the academic, psychosocial
challenges and demands of the Health and Human Services program. The results also
affirmed the need for the community college to consider non-cognitive factors of success in
accommodating students and knowing where they actually are psychosocially. These insights hopefully will further participatory research with students and faculty to enhance program
development, quality of education and student self realization.
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Keywords
Academic achievement , Human services , Community college students , Paramedical education