University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Studies and Evaluation 2014 Relationships & Capital in Living Learning Communities: A Social Network Analysis Leslie Nicole Woltenberg University of Kentucky, leslie.com Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Woltenberg, Leslie Nicole, "Relationships & Capital in Living Learning Communities: A Social Network Analysis" (2014). Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation.edu/epe_etds/20 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge.
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Leslie Nicole Woltenberg, Student Dr. Jane Jensen, Major Professor Dr. Jeff Bieber, Director of Graduate Studies RELATIONSHIPS & CAPITAL IN LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES: A SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS ___________________________________ DISSERTATION ___________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky By Leslie Nicole Woltenberg Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Jane Jensen, Professor of Educational Policy Studies & Evaluation Lexington, Kentucky 2014 Copyright © Leslie N.
Woltenberg 2014 i ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION RELATIONSHIPS & CAPITAL IN LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES: A SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS This study was designed to explore the possible connections between student peer relationships and individual students’ roles in a network as it pertained to outcomes such as self-reported academic achievement and personal satisfaction with the first year of college. The research question directing this inquiry is: How does a student’s role within a residential community of peers relate to success in college? Social network analysis was employed for examination of individual engagement within the context of a larger community. The vast learning community literature tells an interesting story: 1.) a history of co-curricular peer learning environments, 2) a tradition of research intended to assess the value of these programs, 3) a body of literature that provides theoretical explanations for why learning communities should work. The gap in the literature is found regarding what happens within the communities.
To learn how individuals within community learn from one another, community of practice was utilized as a framework in this mixed- methods approach to examine the influence of relationships, and exchange, acquisition, & development of social capital within a living learning community While this network study indicated that popularity, relational ties to staff, and being someone sought-after for advice were not statistically significant predictors of higher GPA, the network analyses confirmed strong network density, cohesion, and proper structure for ideal capital flow. The results of this study confirm that this community is effective in establishing familiarity and even more so, providing an environment that fosters friendships among participants and staff. Furthermore, students developed the ability to construct knowledge alongside their peers. Given the density and relation-rich nature of this community, this positive environment is able to foster more complex and self-authored levels of meaning-making for the students involved.
Building this scaffolding facilitated student development, which effectively created a student transformation from dependence on external authority to self-authorship. This study confirmed that the primary goals of a learning community have been met: a group of strangers developed into a network of friends who reap social and academic benefits by ii virtue of being together in a shared and successful living learning community environment. KEYWORDS: Living Learning Communities, Social Network Analysis, Social Capital, Network Structure, Community of Practice Leslie Nicole Woltenberg ___________________________________ Student’s Signature 7-10-2014 ___________________________________ Date iii RELATIONSHIPS & CAPITAL IN LIVING LEARNING COMMUNITIES: A SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS By Leslie Nicole Woltenberg Dr. Jane Jensen ___________________________________ Director of Dissertation Dr.
Jeff Bieber ___________________________________ Director of Graduate Studies 7-10-2014 ___________________________________ Date iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To begin a “thank you” list for all those who have motivated, encouraged, helped, and otherwise contributed in big and small ways to this research is simply impossible. In the spirit of a social network analysis, I humbly submit this expression of my gratitude to the remarkable individuals below who have contributed so richly to my network and experiences: There is no better doctoral committee chair than Dr. Jensen, you saw potential and possibility when I was just trying to stay afloat among new theoretical perspectives and development schemas. YOU helped to construct my scaffolding and never failed to provide support along the way… there will never be words to adequately express my gratitude.
You are truly wonderful and irreplaceable in my life. For my incredible and unmatched committee members, you have truly become my scholarly family: Dr. Walcott, it has been a blessing to complete this work alongside someone who loves this Engineering community as much (if not more) than I do. You have watched this community grow from a fledging program in an old residence hall into the model of success on our campus.
Between our shared love of muffins and creating powerful student experiences, you have been a constant source of source of motivation, good humor, and encouragement. Dean O’Hair, I will be forever grateful for your invitation to join the Learning Community Taskforce as that work ultimately propelled me into the timely completion of this degree. Thank you for putting your trust in both me and my research. It has been an honor serving my alma mater alongside your kind, strong leadership and expertise.
Covert, you have long been a source of inspiration and encouragement for me to complete an advanced degree in Education. From the early days of the Introduction to Student Affairs course when you reminded our class to keep pursuing our passions, to conversations over coffee where you reassured that I would actually complete this degree… no teacher has been a steadier source of reassurance than you. Thelin, you will never fully know the impact of your advice and encouragement on my academic journey. You have modeled intellectual inquiry and a passion for learning for me and others in this program.
I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to have learned from the best. Both my social network and my heart would have a significant structural hole without you. You are and will always be my scholarly hero. For my friends, family, and colleagues: How can I even begin to express my gratitude for your unending support, love, words of encouragement… and checking in to ensure I hadn’t slipped into a dissertation-provoked coma?! It was through your kindness and support that I have been able to progress through each step in this journey.
It is not just my social network that is richer for having you in it, my life has been immeasurably v blessed with the ways each of you has influenced and shaped me. I love you and thank you so much. Chris Miller, you truly are my most beloved “office buddy” and the gatekeeper to the community! From our long chats in the “think tank” office to your unending support throughout the dissertation survey process… I could not have asked for a better friend and colleague to see me through this process. The success of the communities measured is a reflection of your dedication and excellence.
Your friendship and support has been a hallmark of this entire experience and I thank you for that and for being my friend. Students of the Engineering Community, this work would not be possible without you. I’m humbled and honored to have been granted the opportunity to know so many of you over the years. You have been a part of a very special experience and have contributed richly to the legacy of this program.
Thank you for being willing to share your experiences and perspectives with me. Mom & Dad: There really are no words that capture my gratitude but I will do my best. “Do your best” is among the first and most lasting life lessons that you have given me, specifically “Do your best and God will take care of the rest”. Thank you for teaching me how to be my best and for loving me every step of the way.
You have taught me to keep God first, shown me what true love is, how to love others well, and to persevere no matter the challenge. The completion of this work is a testimony to YOUR excellence. You always said I could do it… the truth is, WE did it! Thank you for everything and I love you so much. Chris, are you sure that our wedding vows didn’t say “in sickness, in health, and while dissertating”?! Without question, you have been the single greatest and most important factor not only in the completion of this work, but in the entirety of my life.
There has never been a day that you haven’t shown me selfless love, complete kindness, unending support, much-needed humor, and modeled balance and perspective to keep me level- headed on even the most challenging days. Thank you for facilitating opportunities for the countless hours of research and writing, and always doing so happily and without hesitation. I love you with all of my heart and I share this accomplishment with you. Carter Michael Woltenberg, you are the single reason this work is now complete.
This completed degree serves as a reminder that you can truly accomplish anything you put your mind to. You have been on this journey with me all along, as you are the inspiration behind the work. From late night edits with you swaddled sweetly in my arms, to much needed breaks from writing so we could take a bicycle ride around the neighborhood. your endless love has been a daily reminder of what is truly important and a source of constant motivation to complete this journey.
You are the single greatest blessing of my life and I am honored to dedicate this dissertation to you. Never stop pursuing your dreams, Carter Michael, and remember that your education is an important tool to positively influence your world. I love you forever and am so proud of you. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………….
iii-iv List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………… ix List of Figures …………. x Chapter One: Introduction …………. 1 Research Question & Context …………. 6 Organization of the Study …….
8 Chapter Two: Literature Review Higher Education & Residential Communities: Historical Overview ………. 9 Learning Community Models & Contemporary Applications …………………….13 Review of Learning Community Outcomes Research ………………….………… 17 Theoretical Framework: Communities of Practice Communities of Practice …………….
