Year: 1998
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The problem of this study was to determine if there was a difference in the college success rate of students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who were consistent users of student support services and those students with ADHD who were inconsistent users, with college success rate measured 'by grade point average.The sample consisted of students, clinically diagnosed with ADHD, who had contacted one of three student support service centers on two different campuses in Montana: (a) student disabilities center, (b) student health center, and/or (c).student counseling center.A mixed methodology was employed.Quantitative data was analyzed about the grade point averages (GPA) of 44 students.That analysis yielded the conclusion that the mean GPA of students who used accommodations consistently did not differ significantly from the mean GPA of students who used those accommodations inconsistently.Qualitative data was gathered from 30 student interviews exploring how they perceived student services as contributing to their success in college.The primary findings of the qualitative data for this sample were that (a) most students had negative school experiences prior to college, (b) the transition to college was made more difficult by the stigma attached to the diagnosis, (c) usually students did not make a contact with a student service center unless they were in crisis.Furthermore students perceived student services as having a role in developing new organizational and study skills, deciding about and obtaining medication, and maximizing their own internal resources.Students contacted the student service center they thought would most help them with the crisis they were experiencing at the time and did not necessarily initiate the contact because they had ADHD.Most saw student services as contributing to the organization of their internal selves, but they integrated those skills and feelings into their daily lives without the continual assistance from a student service center.The most prevalent finding of both the quantitative and qualitative analyses was that almost all of these students used medication and needed a convenient and affordable way in which to be followed medically.I would like to thank my committee members for their contributions to this paper: i the chair, Dr. Ralph Brigham for teaching me to dare to dream; Dr. Bob Fellenz for being the voice I heard as I wrote; Dr. Pete Carparelli for encouraging and challenging me at the same time; Dr. Margaretha Wessel for helping me climb to the summit; Dr. Mary McNally who taught me that some days you just go to the beach; and Dr. Dana Longcope who helped me maintain my sense of humor and a perspective during this process.Also I am grateful for the
Author: Vicki Burford Niemantsverdriet
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W283048097