Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations
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Searching for Support: A Phenomenological Study of Black Male Graduate Students at a Predominantly White University
Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis & Resolution
Department
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies
First Advisor
Claire M. Rice
Second Advisor
Robin Cooper
Third Advisor
Robert J. Witheridge
Keywords
alternative dispute resolution, higher education, African American studies
Abstract
In higher education, the black male experience is understudied. This phenomenological study explored the experience and meaning of black male doctoral students at a predominantly white university. The study was guided by two central research questions: 1) How do black male doctoral students, in the state of Florida, experience attending a predominantly white university? 2) What kind of conflict, if any, do black male doctoral students encounter in higher education? This research included face-to-face interviews with ten black male doctoral students, from various disciplines, at a predominantly white university in the state of Florida. Scholarly academic literature, coupled with four theoretical frameworks, inform this study’s research design and data analysis. This study utilized Johan Galtung’s (1969) theory of structural violence; Arthur Chickering’s (1969) theory of identity development, experienced at the collegiate level; Jean Phinney’s (1993) three stage model of ethnic identity development, as it relates to the lived experiences of black male doctoral students in higher education; and Derrick Bell and Alan Freeman’s (Delgado, 1994) critical race theory, which emphasizes conflict in race, racism, and power. The analysis of the data indicated that the essence of the experience is participants search for support from feeling isolated from the majority of the population of students. The underlying themes of racism, support, financial stability, identity, and the environment of the institution engender the need for such support. Conflict practitioners, administrators, and educators seeking to improve student development, discourage racial disparities, and prevent educational injustice, for black male doctoral students, will benefit from this study and findings.
NSUWorks Citation
Krystle L. Hunter. 2015. Searching for Support: A Phenomenological Study of Black Male Graduate Students at a Predominantly White University. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. (34)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/34.