First Gen Students Across UCs
A research project conducted at UC Santa Cruz in PSYC 182
[If you are interested in the paper, please send me an email]Overview
Context:
This study aims to contextualize the struggles and hardships of first generation students across UC campuses, and how those hardships affect a student’s sense of identity and belonging between peers, family, and within their broader college community.
Role:
I worked with a research partner to produce a 14 page paper investigating first generation students sentiments across the UC system. I helped to produce interview questions, interview participants, encode data, analyze findings, and produce the final paper
Tools Used:
Google Suite, PsycINFO Database, Zoom
Skills Used:
Thematic Analysis, Literature Review, Design Qualitative Research Questions, Qualitative Interviews, Transcription, Social Constructivism
TL;DR
Problem:
First generation students (FGS) at UC campuses face unique challenges including social, financial, and educational barriers, as well as internal struggles like guilt, stress, and perfectionism. These factors hinder their academic success and emotional well-being. After performing a review of current research in the field, we found it was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper.
Solution:
We conducted a 3 month long research study where we interviewed 3 first generation students at UC campuses to explore their experiences with academic, social, and emotional challenges. This produced a 14 page paper highlighting areas of focus in which the UC system could better support first generation students.
Anonymity
I am unfortunately unable to share the entire research paper publicly, as I have been unsuccessful in contacting my research partner. To protect their anonymity, I have opted to not share the paper without their explicit consent as it contains personal information they may be uncomfortable with sharing. I will only be sharing excerpts in the form of pictures. If you would like to read it, please send me and email and we can communicate about a version that doesn't include personal information. I will be including an anonymized version of our final presentation that you are free to read.
Presentation
Our presentation goes through a overview of our research, including literature reviews, methods, design, analysis, excerpts, themes, and conclusions
My Role
Working with only one research partner during this 3 month study, we both shared in many of the tasks. We began by creating unique open ended qualitative research questions that would not induce bias in our interviewees. Next, we interviewed them over Zoom, following all ethical requirements needed for a class based research project. Afterwards, we hand transcribed the interviews from text using orthographic transcription and noted pauses. Lastly, we drew results from our data and created a 14 page paper along with presenting our findings to 40 of our peers.