Postsecondary students with reading difficulties/disabilities: exploring coping strategies and learning techniques

The purpose of the present study was to explore the coping strategies and learning techniques students with reading difficulties/disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) view as effective and commonly use to cope with the demands of postsecondary education. The present study employed a basic qualitative interpretive research design to discover and understand the perspectives and experiences of the students interviewed for this study (Merriam, 1998). Semi-structured interviews were utilized to provide insight into the experiences of these individuals. Analysis of the data generated from these interviews maintained a focus within the theory of resilience. There were three major themes that emerged from the interviews: (1) struggling to learn: recognizing the impact of learning difficulties and/or disabilities; (2) embracing the positives and negatives of a diagnosis; (3) surviving the learning experience: using coping strategies and learning techniques. Despite the adversities the participants within the current study faced, they all reported instances in which they were able to positively adapt and adjust in order to experience success and resilience in their lives. This study concluded with a discussion of the practical implications of the findings, the limitations and strengths of the study, and areas for future research.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology and Special Education

Grantor

University of Saskatchewan

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Somerville, Kristy

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• McIntyre, Laureen

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Hellsten-Bzovey, Laurie
• Claypool, Tim
• Wason-Ellam, Linda

• reading
• reading disability
• dyslexia
• learning disability
• adult learners
• postsecondary students
• coping strategies
• learning strategies

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/ETD-2015-12-2321

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:harvest.usask.ca:10388/ETD-2015-12-2321