Short answer
Incorporate and support culturally relevant student organizations as integral components of the overall student experience design.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) (2019)
- Method
- Grounded Theory
- Sample
- 11 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Membership in Black Greek-Letter Organizations (BGLOs) significantly improves the academic and psychosocial outcomes for African American male college students. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2019 study published in ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University). Using Grounded theory with 11 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate and support culturally relevant student organizations as integral components of the overall student experience design.
Black Greek-Letter Organizations Enhance College Experience for African American Men
Membership in Black Greek-Letter Organizations (BGLOs) significantly improves the academic and psychosocial outcomes for African American male college students.
ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) · 2019
Key Findings
- 01Membership in BGLOs positively impacts the college experiences of African American male students.
- 02BGLOs serve as primary venues for campus involvement for African American students.
- 03Counselors and student personnel perceive their role as providing academic and psychosocial support to these students.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate and support culturally relevant student organizations as integral components of the overall student experience design.
How to apply
When designing programs or support systems for minority student populations, consider how existing cultural or social organizations can be integrated or leveraged to achieve desired outcomes.
Project actions
- 01Consider the social and cultural groups students belong to when designing interventions or support systems.
- 02Investigate how existing communities can be leveraged to improve user experience and outcomes.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes a qualitative approach to capture rich, in-depth experiences.
- +Focuses on a specific, often under-researched, student population.
Limitations
The findings are specific to African American men in BGLOs at a PWI and may not apply to all student demographics or institutional types.
Reliability & validity
The grounded theory approach aims for trustworthiness through detailed data analysis and theme development, enhancing internal validity. However, external validity may be limited due to the specific context.
Think critically
To what extent do the findings generalize to other minority student groups or different types of higher education institutions?
Design Principles
"Leverage existing social structures to enhance user well-being and integration."
Understanding the profound impact of specific social structures on user experience is crucial for designing supportive educational environments. This insight highlights the importance of recognizing and leveraging existing community frameworks to foster student success.
What This Means for Your Design
Joining a Black fraternity or sorority can really help African American guys have a better time in college and do better in school.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of considering student subcultures in your design project.
- 2.Cite this study when discussing the positive impact of community involvement on user outcomes.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that culturally specific student organizations, such as Black Greek-Letter Organizations, play a significant role in enhancing the college experiences of African American male students, positively impacting their academic and psychosocial development within Predominantly White Institutions. This underscores the importance of designing support systems that acknowledge and integrate existing student communities.
Source
ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University)
A Grounded Theory of the College Experiences of African American Males in Black Greek-Letter Organizations
journal · 2019
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about black greek-letter organizations enhance college experience for african american men?
- Incorporate and support culturally relevant student organizations as integral components of the overall student experience design. Evidence: ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University) (2019).
- Why does "Black Greek-Letter Organizations Enhance College Experience for African American Men" matter for design?
- Understanding the profound impact of specific social structures on user experience is crucial for designing supportive educational environments. This insight highlights the importance of recognizing and leveraging existing community frameworks to foster student success.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate and support culturally relevant student organizations as integral components of the overall student experience design.
- What were the main findings?
- Membership in BGLOs positively impacts the college experiences of African American male students.. BGLOs serve as primary venues for campus involvement for African American students.. Counselors and student personnel perceive their role as providing academic and psychosocial support to these students.
- What research method was used?
- Grounded Theory with 11 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2019 journal from ODU Digital Commons (Old Dominion University).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing programs or support systems for minority student populations, consider how existing cultural or social organizations can be integrated or leveraged to achieve desired outcomes.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted at a single Predominantly White Institution, potentially limiting generalizability to other institutional contexts.