an exploration of how us army officers attending the us army command and general staff college ... PDF
Preview an exploration of how us army officers attending the us army command and general staff college ...
AN EXPLORATION OF HOW U.S. ARMY OFFICERS ATTENDING THE U.S. ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY by CHARLES DAVID VANCE B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1977 M.A., Webster University, 1988 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Department of Educational Leadership College of Education KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2013 Abstract This qualitative case study explored how U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) students decided whether or not to attend graduate school. The focus was on how U.S. Army students made their decision. The purpose of the study was to illuminate the issues related to this decision in adult development, adult learning, career decision making, and participation in adult learning activities. These issues were explored using the students’ own words during their interviews in which they described how they made their respective decisions. This research analyzed interviews with 26 students, 12 who either decided to attend one of the graduate programs available to CGSC students or were already in a master’s degree program, and 14 who elected not to attend any of the graduate programs offered. The analysis explored how U.S. Army CGSC students made their decision about graduate school, the process used in making their respective decisions, and the factors that influenced their decisions. Analysis of the students’ interviews answered the primary research question and the four subordinate research questions. Not surprisingly, all the students indicated that military career requirements, post-military career aspirations and requirements, family considerations, and previous academic experience influenced their decision whether or not to attend graduate school. The extent to which their decision was influenced varied, but everyone interviewed expressed some degree of influence of those factors. Not expected were the common themes that emerged from analysis of the interview transcripts of CGSC students. Those themes centered around self-efficacy and confidence, goal setting and achievement, persistence, time management, life issues, guidance and mentorship, perceived quality of the degree or value, and the CGSC master’s program (Master of Military Art and Science). AN EXPLORATION OF HOW U.S. ARMY OFFICERS ATTENDING THE U.S. ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY by CHARLES DAVID VANCE B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1977 M.A., Webster University, 1988 A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Department of Educational Leadership College of Education KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2013 Approved by: Major Professor Sarah Jane Fishback Copyright CHARLES DAVID VANCE 2013 Abstract This qualitative case study explored how U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) students decided whether or not to attend graduate school. The focus was on how U.S. Army students made their decision. The purpose of the study was to illuminate the issues related to this decision in adult development, adult learning, career decision making, and participation in adult learning activities. These issues were explored using the students’ own words during their interviews in which they described how they made their respective decisions. This research analyzed interviews with 26 students, 12 who either decided to attend one of the graduate programs available to CGSC students or were already in a master’s degree program, and 14 who elected not to attend any of the graduate programs offered. The analysis explored how U.S. Army CGSC students made their decision about graduate school, the process used in making their respective decisions, and the factors that influenced their decisions. Analysis of the students’ interviews answered the primary research question and the four subordinate research questions. Not surprisingly, all the students indicated that military career requirements, post-military career aspirations and requirements, family considerations, and previous academic experience influenced their decision whether or not to attend graduate school. The extent to which their decision was influenced varied, but everyone interviewed expressed some degree of influence of those factors. Not expected were the common themes that emerged from analysis of the interview transcripts of CGSC students. Those themes centered around self-efficacy and confidence, goal setting and achievement, persistence, time management, life issues, guidance and mentorship, perceived quality of the degree or value, and the CGSC master’s program (Master of Military Art and Science). Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ xiv List of Tables ...........................................................................................................................xv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ xvi Dedication ............................................................................................................................. xvii Preface.................................................................................................................................. xviii Chapter 1 - Introduction .............................................................................................................1 Who Attends Graduate School ............................................................................................. 6 Military Needs for Graduate Degrees ................................................................................... 7 Benefits of Graduate Degrees ............................................................................................. 11 Participation Issues ............................................................................................................. 13 Family considerations. ................................................................................................... 14 Multiple deployments. ................................................................................................... 14 Academic Environment ...................................................................................................... 16 U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. ......................................................... 17 CGSC faculty. ................................................................................................................ 17 CGSC student population. ............................................................................................. 18 Master of Military Art and Science program. ................................................................ 18 Graduate programs. ........................................................................................................ 19 Characteristics of Adult Learners ....................................................................................... 19 Adult Development ............................................................................................................. 20 Career Development and Decision Making ........................................................................ 22 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 24 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 25 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 25 Pilot Study ........................................................................................................................... 26 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 27 Significance of Study .......................................................................................................... 29 Assumptions of Study ......................................................................................................... 31 Limitations of Study ........................................................................................................... 31 viii Definition of Terms ............................................................................................................ 32 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 38 Chapter 2 - Literature Review ..................................................................................................40 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 40 Who Attends Graduate School ........................................................................................... 41 Military Need for Graduate Degrees .................................................................................. 45 Benefits of a Graduate Degree ............................................................................................ 50 Benefits of a Graduate Degree Specific to Military Personnel ........................................... 52 Participation Issues ............................................................................................................. 53 Barriers to graduate school. ........................................................................................... 53 Characteristics of adult learners. .................................................................................... 59 Adult development. ........................................................................................................ 62 Career Development and Decision Making ........................................................................ 76 Graduate School Decision Making ..................................................................................... 89 Summary ............................................................................................................................. 92 Chapter 3 - Methodology .........................................................................................................93 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 93 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 94 The Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................ 95 Basis for Choosing a Qualitative Research Methodology ................................................ 100 Case Study Methodology .................................................................................................. 102 Student Population ............................................................................................................ 104 Sample .............................................................................................................................. 106 Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 107 Student Survey .................................................................................................................. 111 Interviews and Data Collection ......................................................................................... 112 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 115 Themes .............................................................................................................................. 116 Role of the Researcher ...................................................................................................... 119 Standards of Quality and Verification .............................................................................. 120 Confidentiality of Participants .......................................................................................... 121 ix Summary ........................................................................................................................... 123 Chapter 4 - Findings...............................................................................................................124 Overview of the Study ...................................................................................................... 124 Qualitative Methodology .................................................................................................. 124 Demographics ................................................................................................................... 125 Participant Profiles ............................................................................................................ 127 Andrew. ........................................................................................................................ 128 Bob. .............................................................................................................................. 128 Allen. ............................................................................................................................ 129 Brian. ............................................................................................................................ 129 Carl. .............................................................................................................................. 130 Donald. ......................................................................................................................... 130 Amy.............................................................................................................................. 131 Edward. ........................................................................................................................ 131 Barbara. ........................................................................................................................ 132 Frank. ........................................................................................................................... 132 George. ......................................................................................................................... 132 Cheryl. .......................................................................................................................... 133 Harold. ......................................................................................................................... 133 Irving. ........................................................................................................................... 134 John. ............................................................................................................................. 134 Kevin. ........................................................................................................................... 135 Larry. ............................................................................................................................ 135 Mitch. ........................................................................................................................... 136 Neal. ............................................................................................................................. 136 Oscar. ........................................................................................................................... 136 Paul. ............................................................................................................................. 137 Robert. .......................................................................................................................... 137 Scott. ............................................................................................................................ 138 Ted. .............................................................................................................................. 138 Victor. .......................................................................................................................... 138 x
Description:The list of books you might like
