Examining the Persistence of Female Students from Saudi Arabia

230 Pages·2016·3.67 MB·English

Western Kentucky University
TopSCHOLAR®
Dissertations Graduate School
Fall 2015
Success and the Other[Ed] Woman: Examining the
Persistence of Female Students from Saudi Arabia
Dawn M. Winters
Western Kentucky University, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at:http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/diss
Part of theBilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, and theInternational
and Comparative Education Commons
Recommended Citation
Winters, Dawn M., "Success and the Other[Ed] Woman: Examining the Persistence of Female Students from Saudi Arabia" (2015).
Dissertations.Paper 91.
http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/diss/91
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized
administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected].
SUCCESS AND THE OTHER[ED] WOMAN:
EXAMINING THE PERSISTENCE
OF FEMALE STUDENTS FROM SAUDI ARABIA

A Dissertation
Presented to
The Faculty of the Educational Leadership Doctoral Program
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

In partial fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Education

By
Dawn M. Winters

December 2015

I dedicate this dissertation to my parents who showed me that love engenders and
nurtures any human endeavor, assured me that the ceilings that do exist are indeed
breakable, and never allowed me to believe anything was less than possible.

This dissertation is also dedicated to my partner, Sarah, who shows me every day that
unconditional love is truly without conditions, that discovery and imagination are what
makes our days meaningful, and that this was all worth it.

Finally, to the women who inspired and participated in this research: A long time ago, I
learned that women from all over the world possess strength and wisdom that is often
times negated, objectified, or reduced. You taught me, and now the world, that the
stereotypes that precede you do not define you. Your stories should empower you and
others to navigate this world with confidence, wisdom, and grace. Masha′allah!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

No person is an island, and no significant endeavor is ever completed alone. I
would not have been able to complete this task without the help of the following people
for whom I am thankful.
I wish to express gratitude to Dr. Barbara Burch whose guidance and mentorship
always showed me the interconnectivity of ideas, the magic of people, and the brilliance
of a good story. Without her leadership, I would not be writing these words.
To my committee members, Dr. Kristin Wilson and Dr. Alex Poole, I owe distinct
and meaningful thanks. Dr. Wilson, for opening my eyes to a world of research without
bottom or top, reaffirming my belief in the power of story, and inspiring me with every
office visit. Dr. Poole, for being my teacher, mentor, colleague, and, now, friend. I value
your insight and wisdom, as well as your unmatched opinions on conference goers, the
shapes of public figures, and the size of cookies at the coffee shop.
To the League of Extraordinary Administrators: Ryan Hall, Valarie Phelps,
Wouter Van Alebeek, David Kerr, and Dewaker Dhandapani, as well as former LEAs,
Kandace Hawley, Dima Badghaish, and Rachel Shouse. You have been my coworkers
and friends. You have been my shoulders on which to cry, hands to high-five, legs on
which to stand, and, always, ears that are always understanding. To Ryan Hall, for his
mentorship and friendship that make me a better person. We are, as I once said,
inextricable. To Valarie Phelps, for her diligence, servant leadership, and constant
cheerleading that kept me sane. To Wouter Van Alebeek, for his unwavering friendship
and ability to lead that teach me every day that patience and love are a part of a
workplace. Besties for life. To David Kerr, for his sense of humor and ability to listen
iv
that have shown me more than he will ever know. To Dewaker, for demonstrating that
people are what matter in the world. To Kandace, who showed me the student can
become the master—put the baby in the water, and the baby will swim. Dima, for being
a part of this research before it even flourished into a tangible idea. You inspired this and
nearly everything I do. To Rachel, for introducing peace, musical taste, and crafts into
the workplace. To all of you, I could not have done this without you.
I would also like to thank the teachers, employees, and students of ESLi. You
are, after all, the inspiration for this work. I never thought I would walk this path, but
you have allowed me to see the intrinsic value of a life lived around the world in a single
building.
I must also acknowledge the teachers I have had who have inspired a life in
education. To those in the WKU English department when I was a student of literature—
Elizabeth Oakes, Kelly Reames, John Hagaman, Elizabeth Weston, Lou-Ann Crouther,
Niko Endres, David LeNoir, and Walker Rutledge—thank you for instilling in me the
gifts that accompany the ability to read, think, and discuss. What you showed me
enabled this work. To those I have had in the doctoral program—Ric Keaster, Helen
Sterk, Tony Norman, and all the rest—thank you for teaching me that leadership can be
taught, that power is malleable, and that growth and change are processes to be respected.
To my classmates and partners in crime from Cohort IX, thank you for making
Saturday classes more bearable. To Joy Menser, especially, your support, understanding
ear, and undying sense of humor are inspirational. I have made friends and colleagues
for life.

v
CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ ix
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... x
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xi
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................... 5
Background ..................................................................................................................... 7
Need and Significance of Study .................................................................................... 11
Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 12
Rationale for Methodology ........................................................................................... 12
Nature of the Research Design for the Study ................................................................ 14
Definition of Terms....................................................................................................... 14
Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ............................................................... 18
Summary of Chapters ................................................................................................... 20
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ................................................................................. 21
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 21
Persistence Theories...................................................................................................... 22
Tinto’s Revised Model of Student Persistence. ........................................................ 25
Persistence Theories.................................................................................................. 28
Internationalization ....................................................................................................... 29
Motivations of International Students ....................................................................... 34
Faculty Reaction to Internationalization ................................................................... 37
Needs of International Students ................................................................................ 38
Adjustment Factors of International Students........................................................... 41
International Student Persistence .............................................................................. 45
Students from Saudi Arabia .......................................................................................... 47
Saudi Arabian Culture............................................................................................... 48
Needs of Students from Saudi Arabia ....................................................................... 52
Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 58
METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 59
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 59
vi
Research Design............................................................................................................ 60
Narrative Inquiry ....................................................................................................... 60
Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................. 62
Population and Sample ................................................................................................. 64
Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 67
Instrument Development ............................................................................................... 68
Interview ................................................................................................................... 68
Data Collection Procedures ........................................................................................... 71
Data Analysis Procedures ............................................................................................. 74
Ethical Considerations .................................................................................................. 75
Summary ....................................................................................................................... 76
FINDINGS ....................................................................................................................... 79
Introduction ................................................................................................................... 79
Findings......................................................................................................................... 80
Pre-Entry Attributes .................................................................................................. 80
Intentions................................................................................................................... 95
Goal and Institutional Commitment.......................................................................... 99
Academic System.................................................................................................... 102
Social System .......................................................................................................... 121
External Commitments ........................................................................................... 140
Quality of Student Effort ........................................................................................ 143
Learning .................................................................................................................. 146
Academic Success and Persistence ......................................................................... 149
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 153
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................. 157
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 157
Discussion of Findings ................................................................................................ 159
Summary ..................................................................................................................... 172
Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 175
Recommendations for Universities ......................................................................... 175
Recommendations for Instructors and Advisors ..................................................... 180
Recommendations for Future Studies ..................................................................... 183
vii
Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 185
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 187
APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................ 199
APPENDIX B ................................................................................................................ 201
APPENDIX C ................................................................................................................ 203
APPENDIX D ................................................................................................................ 206

viii
LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. International Student Enrollment and Financial Contributions ........................ 29
Table 2. Top 25 Places of Origin Of International Students........................................... 31
Table 3. International Student and U.S. Higher Education Enrollment .......................... 33
Table 4. Saudi Student Enrollment in the United States ................................................. 48
Table 5. Participant List .................................................................................................. 66

ix