Research Purpose and Questions
The purpose of this narrative case study is to explore how college students with learning difficulties could be better supported on their academic reading practices.
A college degree is key for personal and economic growth. A Bachelor’s degree is worth $ 2.8 million, 57% more than a High School Diploma ($1.3 million on average) (Carnevale, , Rose, & Cheah, 2011) in a lifetime. In addition, higher education provides young adults a structured environment in which they can learn the necessary skills for economical independence (Hershner, & Chervin, 2014). These benefits are translated into the increment of the number of 18- to 24-year-old enrolled in postsecondary institutions, especially among …show more content…
The National Center for Learning Disabilities (2014) reports that 67% of young adults with LD are enrolled in some type of postsecondary education. However, only 17% of young adults with LD receive accommodations and academic support in postsecondary institutions (National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2014). At the same time, students with LD face multiple challenges related to their academic development in postsecondary institutions. For instance, reading is considered to be a study strategy and tool for academic success in college students (Hermida, 2009; Hooley, Tysseling, Ray, 2013; Taraban, Rynearson, & Kerr, 2000). However, reading at the college level presents additional challenges (e.g. text complexity and length, familiarity, genre, etc.) compared with reading in high school (Hermida, 2009; Taraban, Rynearson, & Kerr, 2000), and it is the means towards academic-related task completion (Taraban, Kerr, & Rynearson, 2004). Thus, this study is significant because it pertains to address the issue of lack of academic support for students with LD, specifically for their academic reading practices. To explore this issue, I plan to ask the following research