Abstract:

The 30,000 Degrees: College Readiness for a Stronger Staten Island Program (30,000 Degrees, 2018) was implemented in New York to assist Staten Island, NY by helping residents of the island advance academically and accrue career gains. To measure this goal, the program seeks to accumulate 30,000 bachelor’s degrees or higher by Staten Island residents by the year 2025 (30,000 Degrees, 2018). In an effort to assist with the 30,000 Degrees Program’s college mindedness cohort model of information, this study focuses on interpersonal communication between high-school aged students and their parents.

Using memorable messages as a theoretical foundation (Knapp, Stohl, & Reardon, 1981; Stohl, 1986), this study seeks to understand the communications related to higher education transferred between family members. This study allowed for information to emerge from Staten Island high school students (IRB Approval Protocol #: 0218-162). As high schoolers volunteered to be part of the participant pool, consent documents were signed by students and parents.

The research questions posed by the researcher are as follows:
RQ1: What types of messages are Staten Island students receiving from their families related to pursuing college degrees after high school graduation?
RQ2: Have the ideas Staten Island students received from their families about college degrees influenced their decision to apply to higher education programs?
RQ3: What components are Staten Island students looking for in a university when deciding to enroll?

Data saturation was reached in five focus groups (n = 33). Using findings from previous research at the college level (Adkisson, 2013), combined with thematic analysis (Strauss & Corbin, 1998) and constant comparative methods (Glaser & Strauss, 1967), data will be analyzed qualitatively to find the most common themes. Common themes that emerge in this study will help the 30,000 Degrees Program create resources to help students involved in the program to graduate, supply information that will assist colleges on Staten Island involved in the program to produce marketing materials better aimed at emitting information students and parents are looking for, and revitalize working partnerships between high schools and colleges and universities.

Keywords:

Qualitative Research, Memorable Messages, Applied Research, College Mindedness.