Choice of College Major

150 Pages·2016·0.9 MB·English

Eastern Kentucky University
Encompass
Online Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship
January 2013
Choice of College Major: An Exploration of
Appalachian Female Choice of an Early Childhood
Education Major
Lisa Newton Gannoe
Eastern Kentucky University
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Recommended Citation
Gannoe, Lisa Newton, "Choice of College Major: An Exploration of Appalachian Female Choice of an Early Childhood Education
Major" (2013).Online Theses and Dissertations. 168.
https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/168
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Choice of College Major: An Exploration of Appalachian Female Choice of an Early
Childhood Education Major

By

Lisa N. Gannoe

Master of Education
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky 2002

Bachelor of Science
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
1992

Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of
Eastern Kentucky University
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Education
August, 2013

i
Copyright © Lisa Newton Gannoe, 2013
All Rights Reserved
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DEDICATION

This thesis is dedicated to my husband, Paul,
for his unwavering support.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my Chair, Dr. Charles Hausman, for his guidance, support and
patience. I would also like to thank the other committee members, Dr. James Bliss and
Dr. Deborah West, and Dr. Carol Patrick for their comments, flexibility, and assistance.
Without the continual love and support of my parents and spouse, I would not be at this
point in my life. Finally, I thank Teresa New for her dedication in transcribing many
hours of audio files.

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ABSTRACT

First generation Appalachian female students are exposed to gender differences in
roles and career choices that are modeled in the family. A case study approach was used
to obtain qualitative data from five students at Eastern Kentucky University and their
mothers regarding why these students chose to major in child development and early
childhood education. Bandura’s Social Cognitive Learning Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s
Ecological Systems Theory were used as frameworks for the study. The findings of the
study are valuable in advising college students’ on selection of a college major and
recruitment of dedicated child development and early childhood education professionals
through understanding the influences and motivations of the five students and their
mothers.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1

The Problem .............................................................................................................5
Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................6
Significance of the Study .........................................................................................8
Research Method .....................................................................................................9
Definition of Key Terms ........................................................................................10

II. LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................12

Appalachian and Rural Students ...........................................................................13
First Generation College Students .........................................................................14
Gender Role Views ................................................................................................16
Women’s Self- Efficacy .........................................................................................18
Role Models ...........................................................................................................20
Family Influences and Effect on Choices ..............................................................22
Summary of Literature ...........................................................................................25

III. METHODS ............................................................................................................28
Research Approach ................................................................................................28
Research Questions ................................................................................................29
Interview Questions ...............................................................................................29
Research Sample ....................................................................................................30
Data Collection ......................................................................................................33
Data Collection Tools ............................................................................................35
Interviews ...................................................................................................35
Observations ..............................................................................................35
Memo-Writing ...........................................................................................36
Data Analyses ........................................................................................................36
Trustworthiness of the Data ...................................................................................38
Value to the University and Participants ...............................................................39
Limitations .............................................................................................................40
Summary ................................................................................................................40

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IV. FINDINGS .............................................................................................................41

Appalachian and Rural Communities ....................................................................42
Family Definition and Ideas...................................................................................44
Qualities of Mother and Grandmother ...................................................................45
Qualities of Father and Grandfather ......................................................................47
Division of Labor ...................................................................................................48
Mother at Home vs. Employment ..........................................................................49
Self -Efficacy .........................................................................................................50
Child Development ................................................................................................53
Family Attitude Toward Major ..............................................................................55
Changes In Attitude Toward Family and College .................................................57
Role of Women ......................................................................................................60
Benefits and Barriers to a Major in Child Development and Early Childhood
Education ...............................................................................................................62
Role Models and Influences...................................................................................65
Attitudes Toward School .......................................................................................67
Parental Message about Education ........................................................................69
Information about College .....................................................................................71
Alternative Majors and Attitudes of Subjects ........................................................74
Community, State, and Federal Government and Early Childhood Education .....76
Child Care Programs vs. Keeping Children at Home ............................................79
Eastern Kentucky University .................................................................................81
Future Plans ...........................................................................................................82
Staying in Home Community ................................................................................83
Generational Changes ............................................................................................85
Life Satisfaction .....................................................................................................85
Eco-Map .................................................................................................................87

V. DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................90
Daughters Influence on Mothers ............................................................................90
Influence of Employer and Co-Workers ................................................................92
Future Plans of Students’ Children ........................................................................93
Reasons for Selecting an Early Childhood Education Major ................................95
The Influence of Mothers on Education Choices ..................................................97
The College Major Decision-Making Process .......................................................99
Satisficing and Bounded Rationality .........................................................99
Need Theory.............................................................................................100
Social Cognitive Learning Theory ...........................................................101
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory ........................................102
Implications for Policy and Future Research .......................................................102
Concluding Thoughts ...........................................................................................105

REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................106
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