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Reflection Paper Outline
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Cover Page

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Table of Contents

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Introduction

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Problem Statement

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Purpose Statement

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Research Questions

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Research Method and Design

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References


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Dissertation Proposal

Version: March 2019
© Northcentral University, 2019

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A Study of Socioeconomic factors that influence Postsecondary plans of Urban African
Americans High School Students

Dissertation Proposal

Submitted to Northcentral University School of Education in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education

By:

San Diego, California

November 2019

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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4
Problem Statement ..................................................................................................................... 7
Purpose Statement .................................................................................................................... 11
Research Questions .................................................................................................................. 11
Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 12
Sampling .............................................................................................................................. 14
Data Collection .................................................................................................................... 14
Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 14
Validity and Reliability ........................................................................................................ 15
Ethical Considerations ......................................................................................................... 15
References ................................................................................................................................ 17

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Introduction
According to Barrow et al. (2013), the most important or crucial investment that
families and students can make is to invest in postsecondary education. College degrees
accord American citizens many advantages such as greater job security, access to jobs that
are well paying, healthier lives and the capacities to be more civically engaged.
Postsecondary education not only allows students and families to succeed in life, but it is also
a pathway to economic strength. But for most families and students to achieve this goal,
college education must be made affordable and accessible, especially to students who are
underserved historically (Barrow et al.2016).
Allen (2019) argues that college graduates have more job options to choose from
compared to those who do not go beyond high school education, and that graduate earnings
are higher than non-graduate earnings. In her article titled “Why is Higher Education
Important?”, Allen (2019) quotes some 2004 statistics by the US Census Bureau, which
indicated that annual graduate earnings exceeded the earnings by high school diploma holders
– who earn an average annual salary of about $30,056 - by about $54,074. She further makes
reference to "Postsecondary Education Opportunity Research Letter," which indicated that
the lifetime earnings for families headed by degree holders exceed the lifetime earnings of
families headed by high school diploma holders by about $1.6 million (Allen, 2019). These
statistics indicate the importance of postsecondary education and why many families and
students desire to attain college diplomas and university degrees.
According to Vista College (2019), the number of Americans that perceive college
education as being important has grown tremendously. Besides improving the quality of life
by providing financial security, Americans perceive education as a door to comfortable
lifestyles and better job opportunities. The 2019 report by Vista College further reveals that
Americans perceive higher education as being an important tool to get ahead of life, many

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who never completed college regretted their decisions later, and many others feel that college
education would have significantly improved their lives. Positive cash flows and gainful
employments have also been associated with reduced stress factors that often result from
financial insecurity. This means that one is more likely to be healthier and happier when they
have some college diplomas or degrees under their belt (Vista College, 2019).
Unlike in the past, high school diplomas no longer open the doors to rewarding
employment opportunities. Perhaps the reason for this is that the US economy is no longer
manufacturing-based like in the past; it has become more knowledge-based. Higher education
can be equated to high school diplomas of about 40 years ago. This explains the reason why
most people nowadays perceive higher education as the quickest pathway to rewarding
careers. Most people may not know what to do after graduation, but they want careers that
pay well, secure, and more satisfying, and these are the reasons why most Americans invest
their time and money in college education (Day & Newburger, 2002).
Beyond employment prospects and sweet graduate salaries, Mirowsky & Ross (2005)
argue that college graduates are also likely to lead healthy lives, with fewer obesity and
smoking incidences. Smoking rates among holders of high school diplomas have been found
to be higher compared to smoking rates among those who attain postsecondary level
education. Additionally, obesity cases among those who attain higher education are low, and
more educated mothers have been found to spend extra time with their children, whether they
are employed or unemploy...