an exploration of how us army officers attending the us army command and general staff college

316 Pages·2013·1.5 MB·English

AN EXPLORATION OF HOW U.S. ARMY OFFICERS ATTENDING THE U.S. ARMY
COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO
ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY

by

CHARLES DAVID VANCE

B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1977
M.A., Webster University, 1988

AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION

submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

Department of Educational Leadership
College of Education

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Manhattan, Kansas

2013
Abstract
This qualitative case study explored how U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College (CGSC) students decided whether or not to attend graduate school. The focus was
on how U.S. Army students made their decision. The purpose of the study was to illuminate
the issues related to this decision in adult development, adult learning, career decision
making, and participation in adult learning activities. These issues were explored using the
students’ own words during their interviews in which they described how they made their
respective decisions.
This research analyzed interviews with 26 students, 12 who either decided to attend
one of the graduate programs available to CGSC students or were already in a master’s
degree program, and 14 who elected not to attend any of the graduate programs offered. The
analysis explored how U.S. Army CGSC students made their decision about graduate school,
the process used in making their respective decisions, and the factors that influenced their
decisions.
Analysis of the students’ interviews answered the primary research question and the
four subordinate research questions. Not surprisingly, all the students indicated that military
career requirements, post-military career aspirations and requirements, family considerations,
and previous academic experience influenced their decision whether or not to attend graduate
school. The extent to which their decision was influenced varied, but everyone interviewed
expressed some degree of influence of those factors. Not expected were the common themes
that emerged from analysis of the interview transcripts of CGSC students. Those themes
centered around self-efficacy and confidence, goal setting and achievement, persistence, time
management, life issues, guidance and mentorship, perceived quality of the degree or value,
and the CGSC master’s program (Master of Military Art and Science).
AN EXPLORATION OF HOW U.S. ARMY OFFICERS ATTENDING THE U.S. ARMY
COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO
ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL: A QUALITATIVE CASE STUDY

by

CHARLES DAVID VANCE

B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1977
M.A., Webster University, 1988

A DISSERTATION

submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

Department of Educational Leadership
College of Education

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Manhattan, Kansas

2013

Approved by:

Major Professor
Sarah Jane Fishback
Copyright
CHARLES DAVID VANCE
2013
Abstract
This qualitative case study explored how U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College (CGSC) students decided whether or not to attend graduate school. The focus was
on how U.S. Army students made their decision. The purpose of the study was to illuminate
the issues related to this decision in adult development, adult learning, career decision
making, and participation in adult learning activities. These issues were explored using the
students’ own words during their interviews in which they described how they made their
respective decisions.
This research analyzed interviews with 26 students, 12 who either decided to attend
one of the graduate programs available to CGSC students or were already in a master’s
degree program, and 14 who elected not to attend any of the graduate programs offered. The
analysis explored how U.S. Army CGSC students made their decision about graduate school,
the process used in making their respective decisions, and the factors that influenced their
decisions.
Analysis of the students’ interviews answered the primary research question and the
four subordinate research questions. Not surprisingly, all the students indicated that military
career requirements, post-military career aspirations and requirements, family considerations,
and previous academic experience influenced their decision whether or not to attend graduate
school. The extent to which their decision was influenced varied, but everyone interviewed
expressed some degree of influence of those factors. Not expected were the common themes
that emerged from analysis of the interview transcripts of CGSC students. Those themes
centered around self-efficacy and confidence, goal setting and achievement, persistence, time
management, life issues, guidance and mentorship, perceived quality of the degree or value,
and the CGSC master’s program (Master of Military Art and Science).
Table of Contents
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ xiv
List of Tables ...........................................................................................................................xv
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ xvi
Dedication ............................................................................................................................. xvii
Preface.................................................................................................................................. xviii
Chapter 1 - Introduction .............................................................................................................1
Who Attends Graduate School ............................................................................................. 6
Military Needs for Graduate Degrees ................................................................................... 7
Benefits of Graduate Degrees ............................................................................................. 11
Participation Issues ............................................................................................................. 13
Family considerations. ................................................................................................... 14
Multiple deployments. ................................................................................................... 14
Academic Environment ...................................................................................................... 16
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. ......................................................... 17
CGSC faculty. ................................................................................................................ 17
CGSC student population. ............................................................................................. 18
Master of Military Art and Science program. ................................................................ 18
Graduate programs. ........................................................................................................ 19
Characteristics of Adult Learners ....................................................................................... 19
Adult Development ............................................................................................................. 20
Career Development and Decision Making ........................................................................ 22
Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 24
Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 25
Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 25
Pilot Study ........................................................................................................................... 26
Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 27
Significance of Study .......................................................................................................... 29
Assumptions of Study ......................................................................................................... 31
Limitations of Study ........................................................................................................... 31
viii
Definition of Terms ............................................................................................................ 32
Summary ............................................................................................................................. 38
Chapter 2 - Literature Review ..................................................................................................40
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 40
Who Attends Graduate School ........................................................................................... 41
Military Need for Graduate Degrees .................................................................................. 45
Benefits of a Graduate Degree ............................................................................................ 50
Benefits of a Graduate Degree Specific to Military Personnel ........................................... 52
Participation Issues ............................................................................................................. 53
Barriers to graduate school. ........................................................................................... 53
Characteristics of adult learners. .................................................................................... 59
Adult development. ........................................................................................................ 62
Career Development and Decision Making ........................................................................ 76
Graduate School Decision Making ..................................................................................... 89
Summary ............................................................................................................................. 92
Chapter 3 - Methodology .........................................................................................................93
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 93
Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 94
The Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................ 95
Basis for Choosing a Qualitative Research Methodology ................................................ 100
Case Study Methodology .................................................................................................. 102
Student Population ............................................................................................................ 104
Sample .............................................................................................................................. 106
Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 107
Student Survey .................................................................................................................. 111
Interviews and Data Collection ......................................................................................... 112
Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 115
Themes .............................................................................................................................. 116
Role of the Researcher ...................................................................................................... 119
Standards of Quality and Verification .............................................................................. 120
Confidentiality of Participants .......................................................................................... 121
ix
Summary ........................................................................................................................... 123
Chapter 4 - Findings...............................................................................................................124
Overview of the Study ...................................................................................................... 124
Qualitative Methodology .................................................................................................. 124
Demographics ................................................................................................................... 125
Participant Profiles ............................................................................................................ 127
Andrew. ........................................................................................................................ 128
Bob. .............................................................................................................................. 128
Allen. ............................................................................................................................ 129
Brian. ............................................................................................................................ 129
Carl. .............................................................................................................................. 130
Donald. ......................................................................................................................... 130
Amy.............................................................................................................................. 131
Edward. ........................................................................................................................ 131
Barbara. ........................................................................................................................ 132
Frank. ........................................................................................................................... 132
George. ......................................................................................................................... 132
Cheryl. .......................................................................................................................... 133
Harold. ......................................................................................................................... 133
Irving. ........................................................................................................................... 134
John. ............................................................................................................................. 134
Kevin. ........................................................................................................................... 135
Larry. ............................................................................................................................ 135
Mitch. ........................................................................................................................... 136
Neal. ............................................................................................................................. 136
Oscar. ........................................................................................................................... 136
Paul. ............................................................................................................................. 137
Robert. .......................................................................................................................... 137
Scott. ............................................................................................................................ 138
Ted. .............................................................................................................................. 138
Victor. .......................................................................................................................... 138
x