Research Projects 2012-13
Leadership Effectiveness and Development
This research team involves doctoral students interested in dissertations focusing on leadership development, leadership effectiveness, and/or gender issues in leadership. Partnership with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) affords the possibility to conduct pilot research at their 2012 Leadership Development Institute (LDI) and Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI). Additionally, data from previous CCCU leadership development institutes are included in this research team’s study. This research team is led by Dr. Karen Longman (klongman@apu.edu).
Globalization’s Impact on Higher Education in the Kingdom of Cambodia
Students have an opportunity to join faculty member and returning graduate researchers in ongoing research on the role of globalization at two institutions of higher education in Cambodia. This team builds upon ongoing research that employs focus groups, individual interviews, and participant observations, to understand educational policies, practices, and significant institutional factors that contribute to the successful delivery of higher education for undergraduate students. This study analyzes both the organizational culture and implementation of educational policies of higher education institutions. Two sites have been selected for 2012-2013--the University of Cambodia, an institution founded by Cambodian expatriates from the United States, as well as Westminster College and Seminary, initiated by South Korean missionaries. This research team is led by Dr. Alex Jun (ajun@apu.edu).
Graduate Student Thriving: A Longitudinal Study
This project expands on a correlational design that has surveyed over 13,000 undergraduate students over the past four years about their levels of “thriving” academically, socially, and emotionally. Previous studies have resulted in a valid and reliable instrument (The Thriving Quotient) to measure thriving in undergraduate college students; this project adapts the measures to define and explore thriving in graduate students. Three questions are addressed by this research team: (1) To what extent does the current model of thriving fit the data collected from graduate students? (2) What additional constructs are necessary to fully define thriving in graduate students? And (3) What experiences are significant predictors of thriving among graduate students, after controlling for their demographic characteristics? This research team is led by Dr. Laurie Schreiner (lschreiner@apu.edu).
Innovation in Higher Education
This research team utilizes a qualitative approach to explore examples of innovative leadership in higher education. Case studies are conducted on various campuses around the country focusing on how innovative ideas emerge and are executed. Aspects including the effect of culture and individual strengths are considered. Literature on innovation and creativity from various disciplines is collected and synthesized. The team members, working in pairs, develop a case study of the “life of an innovative idea” on an assigned campus. Each pair travels to that campus at least once during the year of research. This research team is led by Dr. Eileen Hulme (ehulme@apu.edu).
Effects of Spirituality/Religiousness on College Student Experience and Development
This research project examines how college students’ spirituality/religiousness uniquely shapes their college experiences and development. The research team has identified the patterns of college students’ spiritual/religious engagement, the general and conditional effects of the engagement on college outcomes, and predictors of college students’ spiritual/religious engagement. In this research team project, the investigation of college students’ spirituality and its impact on college student development is expanded by examining the role played by college students’ spirituality/religiousness on their college experience and success. This research project uses data from the 2010 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey. For data analysis, the project utilizes an advanced statistical method which may include blocked multiple regression analyses, hierarchical linear modeling, or structural equation modeling. This research team is led by Dr. Young Kim (ykkim@apu.edu).
Gender and Race Disparity in Student-Faculty Interaction
This research project examines the gender- and race-based disparity in the level and effect of student-faculty interaction. The research team as well as the team leader has identified differences in the level of student-faculty interaction and the conditional effects of faculty interaction depending on students’ gender and race. In this research team project, we attempt to scrutinize those patterns by examining possible joint effects between these student characteristics (i.e., gender and race) and type of student-faculty interaction. This research project uses data from the 2010 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey. The research project utilizes an advanced statistical method which may include blocked multiple regression analyses, hierarchical linear modeling, or structural equation modeling. This research team is led by Dr. Young Kim (ykkim@apu.edu).
