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Perceptions of social support in doctoral programs among minority students
1University of Minnesota, USA.
Psychological Reports
|July 6, 2000
Summary
Doctoral students found academic settings supportive but social environments lacking. Racial disparities in perceived support were noted, with African-American and Native-American students reporting less support.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Higher Education Studies
- Psychology
Background:
- Graduate school presents unique challenges for doctoral students.
- Understanding social support systems is crucial for student success and retention.
- Racial and ethnic minority students may face distinct environmental challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the perceptions of social support among diverse doctoral students.
- To identify sources of support and barriers within the academic environment.
- To explore racial and ethnic differences in perceived social support.
Main Methods:
- Survey research utilizing the Doctoral Student Survey.
- Quantitative analysis of social support perceptions (N=203).
- Inclusion of African-American, Hispanic, Native-American, and Asian-American doctoral students.
Main Results:
- Most students viewed the academic environment and faculty as supportive.
- The campus social environment was perceived as unsupportive by many.
- African-American and Native-American students reported lower social support than Hispanic and Asian-American students.
- Native-American students perceived departmental support as lower than other groups.
Conclusions:
- While academic structures offer support, the social climate requires improvement.
- Targeted interventions may be needed to enhance social support for minority doctoral students.
- Addressing environmental factors is key to fostering inclusive graduate experiences.