The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of non-traditional students in the OS program at EKU. The findings of this research will allow faculty, staff, and other students to gain an understanding of this population of students and their perspective and experience.
To reach the research objectives, this study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and email follow up with each of the participants. The study included three non-traditional students that were currently enrolled in or had recently graduated from the OS program. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and grouped into common themes to attempt to capture the essence of the experience of non-traditional students.
","abstract_html":"<p>The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of non-traditional students in the OS program at EKU. The findings of this research will allow faculty, staff, and other students to gain an understanding of this population of students and their perspective and experience. </p> <p>To reach the research objectives, this study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and email follow up with each of the participants. The study included three non-traditional students that were currently enrolled in or had recently graduated from the OS program. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and grouped into common themes to attempt to capture the essence of the experience of non-traditional students. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ward, Deana Marie"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z","subjects":["Adult learning","Non-traditional Student","Occupational Science","Occupational Therapy"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2012 Deana Marie Ward"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/73","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ward, Deana Marie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Adult learning","Non-traditional Student","Occupational Science","Occupational Therapy"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2012 Deana Marie Ward"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/73"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of non-traditional students in the OS program at EKU. The findings of this research will allow faculty, staff, and other students to gain an understanding of this population of students and their perspective and experience.
To reach the research objectives, this study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and email follow up with each of the participants. The study included three non-traditional students that were currently enrolled in or had recently graduated from the OS program. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and grouped into common themes to attempt to capture the essence of the experience of non-traditional students.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Lived Experience of Non-traditional Students in the Occupational Science Program at Eastern Kentucky University"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Ward, Deana Marie"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this study was to discover the lived experience of non-traditional students in the OS program at EKU. The findings of this research will allow faculty, staff, and other students to gain an understanding of this population of students and their perspective and experience.
To reach the research objectives, this study used a qualitative phenomenological approach. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and email follow up with each of the participants. The study included three non-traditional students that were currently enrolled in or had recently graduated from the OS program. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and grouped into common themes to attempt to capture the essence of the experience of non-traditional students.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/73"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2012 Deana Marie Ward"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Adult learning","Non-traditional Student","Occupational Science","Occupational Therapy"],"dc:title":["The Lived Experience of Non-traditional Students in the Occupational Science Program at Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z"}