White Working Class Males in British Higher Education
Appendix E : Post-Entry Research Methodology
Overview The research collected for this project informs part of a larger multi-year study at the University of Portsmouth titled : Understanding the University of Portsmouth Student : Recruitment , Aspirations , Induction , and the Student Experience . The multi-year study is a mixed methods study involving surveys and focus groups to explore the student experience at the University or Portsmouth . The University published the Education Strategy for 2016-2020 , which includes what it means to be a “ Portsmouth graduate ”, highlighting the strengths , qualities , and attributes that a Portsmouth student can expect to develop during the course of their studies ( University of Portsmouth , 2016 ). The main aim of this study is to explore and enhance the ways by which the University of Portsmouth supports students to become “ Portsmouth graduates ”, focusing on recruitment / outreach / access / widening participation ; induction activities ; aspirations / employability ; progression / persistence ; and attainment .
Combining data collection for this research with the larger study provided an opportunity to gather more responses and more data than would have been possible if a separate survey had been created specifically for the white , working class men in higher education research project . Before working with the Marketing and Communications team to build specific questions into their annual survey that would provide data for this research , the estimated number of survey responses the white , working class men in higher education project was expected to achieve was 200 out of the 5775 first year undergraduates , which would have amounted to about a 3.5 percent response rate . As a result of combining survey questions into the larger survey , 678 students completed the survey , amounting to approximately a 12 percent response rate .
Aims / Objectives The primary aims / objectives of this research is that the research outcomes will :
• increase recruitment of underrepresented students , specifically white , working class men ;
• inform improvements to student services , specifically related to : recruitment / outreach / access / widening participation and support services ;
• enhance the undergraduate student experience at the University of Portsmouth .
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Project Timeline / Milestones Aug- Drafted a literature review focused on UK literature around the higher education Sep participation of white , working class , young men , including a focus on the local
Portsmouth specific data around HE participation . Aug- In partnership with Marketing and Communications , developed a survey for first Oct year undergraduate students . Oct Developed a focus group guide for focus groups with working class , white , traditional age men who are current undergraduates at the University . Oct Prepared and submitted applications to the ethics committee and the student voice group for review . Both approved . Oct Prepared a recruitment and advertising strategy , including print and online advertising . Nov Collected survey responses online using Qualtrics for four weeks from 3 rd Nov – 1 st
Dec . Nov Recruited focus group participants . Nov - Organised and conducted three focus groups with 20 participants lasting Dec approximately one hour each . Dec Analyse survey data using Qualtrics and focus group data using thematic analysis . Dec Present initial findings at the SUN WP conference in Bournemouth on 15 th December Jan Complete report of findings .
Research Design Review