Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
Advisor
Roslyn Doctorow
Committee Member
Katrina Pann
Committee Member
Kimberly Durham
Keywords
social skills, emotional skills, academic skills, development, lived experiences, homeschool, homeschooling, connections, personalized instruction, motivation, engagement
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to explore the lived experiences of homeschooled students and to learn the perceptions they have on their social, emotional, and academic skills development. It also examined their views toward homeschooling as a practice.
The researcher interviewed nine homeschooled students from a homeschooling facility in southeast Florida. A semi-structured approach to explore their beliefs and practices toward engaging with peers, adults, and authorities other than their parents was utilized. Their interactions and activities were examined to determine the essence of their experiences. The researcher aimed to learn if homeschooled students harbor the same perceptions that critics possess—that homeschooled students are socially and emotionally impaired.
An analysis of the data revealed that the homeschooled students believe they are well-socialized, self-aware, and well-educated. Many of the participants thought they were more socialized and emotionally stable than their public and private school peers, relishing the numerous field trips and extracurricular activities they participated in, the deep connections and bonds they forged with others, and their advanced academic rigor. The results further demonstrated that homeschooled students developed an intrinsic motivation for learning due to their active participation in the planning of their lessons and learning process.
NSUWorks Citation
Kerrie-Ann J. Dixon. 2024. Homeschooled Students’ Perceptions of Their Social Competence, Emotional Intelligence, and Academic Skills Development. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. (656)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/656.