The life histories of six college-aged intellectuals

Author

Michael Desha Sanders

Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Laurence J. Coleman

Committee Members

Tricia McClam, Richard Wisniewski, Faye Harrison

Abstract

Purposeful sampling was used to identify six college-aged self- identified intellectuals from a group of University Scholars. The group included three men and three women. Four were from East Tennessee, one from the north east and one from an eastern European country. All were around twenty years old. All were in the University College Scholar's Program and one in the Whittle Scholar's Program. Two were self-identified as gay.

Multiple interviews with member checks were used to create textual data from each participant. The analysis used textual information from the interviews combined with information from sociological and anthropological sources to create six life histories.

Methodological considerations inherent in this type of research in general and this work in particular are discussed. Cohort members are compared in terms of similarities and differences, and specific instances of researcher reaction to the stories are presented.

The life stories provide insights into the lives of self-defined intellectuals that might have been overlooked had another research paradigm been used. Participants discussed personal independence, the desire to learn, the meaning of the term intellectual, attitudes toward schooling, their teachers,educational programs for intellectually gifted students, social and cultural interests, their personal lives and other topics.

Each life story is accompanied by a commentary section that attempts to situate the participants in a social, historical, and cultural context. Commentary topics are drawn from the participants stories.

The study also includes a seventh life story, the researcher's story. The researcher's story includes biographical information with commentary on how this may relate to the manner in which the other stories were analyzed.

Finally, there is a denouement presenting implications for researchers, teacher educators and teachers. Implications for educators are discussed. Suggestions are made for future research.

Recommended Citation

Sanders, Michael Desha, "The life histories of six college-aged intellectuals. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 1995.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/10213