Keywords
Immigrant students, stereotypes, cultural identity, perceptions of similarity, academic achievement
Abstract
For decades, the United States has been known as the nation of immigrants due to the increasing number of immigrant students in the public school system. Although the population of immigrant students steadily increases annually, American society still pressures immigrants into acculturation to fulfill the United States ideals of academic achievement despite the United States claim of multiculturalism (Malcolm & Lowery, 2011). This research focuses on 1st - and 2nd generation immigrant students’ strife of acceptance in U.S. culture, while sill preserving their own native culture, and the influence it has on academic achievement. The researcher interviewed eight (8) adult participants who are either 1st - or 2nd generation immigrant college students. This qualitative case study research aims to determine if forced acculturation or assimilation using stereotypes and perceptions of similarity effects how immigrant students develop their cultural identity, and the influence it has on academic achievement. Four major themes emerged from the participants’ responses: parental approval, peer pressure, environmental influence, and feelings about their ethnic group. Basic findings supported that immigrant students’ cultural identity is threatened by stereotypes and perceptions of similarity.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2013
Semester
Fall
Advisor
Szente, Judit
Degree
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Education and Human Performance
Department
Child, Family, and Community Sciences
Degree Program
Early Childhood Development and Education
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0004996
URL
http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004996
Language
English
Release Date
December 2013
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
Subjects
Dissertations, Academic -- Education, Education -- Dissertations, Academic
STARS Citation
Fagan, Tamara, "Stereotypes, Perceptions Of Similarity, And Cultural Identity: Factors That May Influence The Academic Achievement Of Immigrant Students." (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2747.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/2747