Hidden in Plain Sight: Situating the Identities and Experiences of Asian American Pacific Islander Students at an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Asians and Asian Americans neither look alike nor speak the same language. Despite many differences in the Asian diaspora, the people who define it are often viewed as a homogenous entity or population. This homogenization is also evident in educational contexts (B., Chang, 2017). The inclination to acknowledge Asians and Asian communities through imprecise linguistic, social, and academic generalities can negate their heterogeneity, distinct characteristics, and unique experiences, leading to inaccurate, misinformed, apathetic, and exclusionary institutional and educational policies and practices (Museus & Kiang, 2009; S. J., Lee, 1996; S. J., Lee, 2005; Teranishi, 2007). Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to raise awareness of the complexity of AAPI student identities and experiences by examining the experiences and conceptualizations of identity among a purposive sample of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students attending an Asian American Native American Pacific Island Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The study also explored how university-based resources support these students’ conceptualizations of identity. Two broad research questions guided this study: (1) How do the personal experiences of AANAPISI-attending AAPI students inform their conceptualization of identity? (2) What university-based resources support these students’ conceptualizations of identity? Methods: This qualitative case study used multiple data sources, including semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and reflexive journaling to examine the conceptualizations of identity 15 AAPI-identifying students and their identity-based experiences. Recruitment for the study included purposeful sampling and snowballing. Data were coded and categorized using the constant comparison method (Gonzalez y Gonzalez, 2005). Themes were interpreted and identified using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Clarke, 2012). Results: Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006…
abstract: Background: Asians and Asian Americans neither look alike nor speak the same language. Despite many differences in the Asian diaspora, the people who define it are often viewed as a homogenous entity or population. This homogenization is also evident in educational contexts (B., Chang, 2017). The inclination to acknowledge Asians and Asian communities through imprecise linguistic, social, and academic generalities can negate their heterogeneity, distinct characteristics, and unique experiences, leading to inaccurate, misinformed, apathetic, and exclusionary institutional and educational policies and practices (Museus & Kiang, 2009; S. J., Lee, 1996; S. J., Lee, 2005; Teranishi, 2007). Purpose: This qualitative study aimed to raise awareness of the complexity of AAPI student identities and experiences by examining the experiences and conceptualizations of identity among a purposive sample of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students attending an Asian American Native American Pacific Island Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The study also explored how university-based resources support these students’ conceptualizations of identity. Two broad research questions guided this study: (1) How do the personal experiences of AANAPISI-attending AAPI students inform their conceptualization of identity? (2) What university-based resources support these students’ conceptualizations of identity? Methods: This qualitative case study used multiple data sources, including semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and reflexive journaling to examine the conceptualizations of identity 15 AAPI-identifying students and their identity-based experiences. Recruitment for the study included purposeful sampling and snowballing. Data were coded and categorized using the constant comparison method (Gonzalez y Gonzalez, 2005). Themes were interpreted and identified using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Clarke, 2012). Results: Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006…
author: Phan, Trang Anh Thuc
language: eng
keywords: AAPI students, Identity, Racialized experiences, AANAPISI
date published: 2022-11-23
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:33:01Z
provider: University of Houston
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Houston

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10657/14476