Dissertation Review for Female Senior Student Affairs Officers and Pathways to Success
Purpose and General Rationale
In the dissertation defended by Yettieve Marquez, “Female senior student affairs officers at four-year public institutions: Pathways to advancement,” Marquez discusses gender and leadership disparities in senior student affairs officers (SSAO). The author discovers that females are earning every degree type at a higher rate than their male counterparts, but more women are in entry and mid-level positions. The gender gap has dramatically decreased over time at four-year private institutions, but the largest gender gap within SSAO positions continues to exist at four-year public institutions. Through this qualitative study, the …show more content…
The interview processes were the primary method for collecting data. Interviews were conducted in person, recorded and then transcribed. However, the researcher also used field notes, document analysis, and the member-checking process to assist in her research. The researcher conducted ongoing field notes in an effort to eliminate personal biases and to add to her multiple qualitative research methods. She also used the member-checking process, where the participants were asked to confirm the accuracy of the transcribed data in order to strengthen the validity of the study. The document analysis was used to examine the participants’ resumes. Being able to analyze the resumes were both useful and applicable to the study because they not only highlighted the participants’ professional experiences, but also their educational credentials, professional skills, and major responsibilities within their higher education. The researcher played the interpreter of the process. She immersed herself in the transcriptions throughout the coding process and removed personal biases when interpreting the data. It was also very important for the researcher to establish and maintain positive relationships with each participant in order to enhance credibility and …show more content…
The researcher categorized the results in three sections: career paths, institution and board perspective, and new initiatives. The researcher obtain information of the participants’ educational pursuits. 13 of the participants expressed that going to college was never a question for them and came from very supportive homes. 12 of the participants held student leadership positions while in college. Nine of these 12 mentioned that it was their involvement with these student positions that lead to their interest in higher education. A reoccurring theme of doctoral studies remain prevalent during the study. 10 of the 15 participants had a doctorate, one was a doctoral student, two mentioned the ability to overcome the doctorate as an internal candidate, and the remaining two noted that if they wanted a higher position, they most likely would need the doctorate. Most of the study’s participants held an average of six positions prior to their current SSAO role. 12 of the participants indicated that they had a mentor, and that they believed having strong relationships with others was instrumental to their attainment of an SSAO position. Specifically, 11 of the 15 participants listed having an influential supervisor, and 6 of the 11 mentioned their
Purpose and General Rationale
In the dissertation defended by Yettieve Marquez, “Female senior student affairs officers at four-year public institutions: Pathways to advancement,” Marquez discusses gender and leadership disparities in senior student affairs officers (SSAO). The author discovers that females are earning every degree type at a higher rate than their male counterparts, but more women are in entry and mid-level positions. The gender gap has dramatically decreased over time at four-year private institutions, but the largest gender gap within SSAO positions continues to exist at four-year public institutions. Through this qualitative study, the …show more content…
The interview processes were the primary method for collecting data. Interviews were conducted in person, recorded and then transcribed. However, the researcher also used field notes, document analysis, and the member-checking process to assist in her research. The researcher conducted ongoing field notes in an effort to eliminate personal biases and to add to her multiple qualitative research methods. She also used the member-checking process, where the participants were asked to confirm the accuracy of the transcribed data in order to strengthen the validity of the study. The document analysis was used to examine the participants’ resumes. Being able to analyze the resumes were both useful and applicable to the study because they not only highlighted the participants’ professional experiences, but also their educational credentials, professional skills, and major responsibilities within their higher education. The researcher played the interpreter of the process. She immersed herself in the transcriptions throughout the coding process and removed personal biases when interpreting the data. It was also very important for the researcher to establish and maintain positive relationships with each participant in order to enhance credibility and …show more content…
The researcher categorized the results in three sections: career paths, institution and board perspective, and new initiatives. The researcher obtain information of the participants’ educational pursuits. 13 of the participants expressed that going to college was never a question for them and came from very supportive homes. 12 of the participants held student leadership positions while in college. Nine of these 12 mentioned that it was their involvement with these student positions that lead to their interest in higher education. A reoccurring theme of doctoral studies remain prevalent during the study. 10 of the 15 participants had a doctorate, one was a doctoral student, two mentioned the ability to overcome the doctorate as an internal candidate, and the remaining two noted that if they wanted a higher position, they most likely would need the doctorate. Most of the study’s participants held an average of six positions prior to their current SSAO role. 12 of the participants indicated that they had a mentor, and that they believed having strong relationships with others was instrumental to their attainment of an SSAO position. Specifically, 11 of the 15 participants listed having an influential supervisor, and 6 of the 11 mentioned their