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The Experiences of Belonging in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Questioning College Students
Jones, Logan Persons
Jones, Logan Persons
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Text, Honors papers, Psychology, Department of
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Abstract
The ability to provide welcoming college environments for Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Questioning (LGBQ) students is hindered by the limited amount
of research on the topic of belongingness and LGBQ college students. Extant
research has focused primarily on survey data with little attention to the lived
experiences of LGBQ students. The purpose of this study was to: (1) highlight
differences in LGBQ and heterosexual students’ perceptions of the campus
climate based on a quantitative survey conducted over the past three years, (2)
capture more detailed accounts of LGBQ students’ experiences with
belongingness using qualitative interviews, and (3) provide a forum for LGBQ
students to collectively discuss their perceptions of the campus climate and
provide suggestions for positive change. Overall, the quantitative survey
findings suggest that LGBQ students experience the campus as less accepting
than heterosexual students. Findings from the interviews illustrate that LGBQ
students have complicated and diverse experiences on campus which are
influenced by the mixed responses they receive from peer and non-peer
members of the college community. Finally, findings from the focus group
demonstrate that LGBQ students have suggestions for positive campus
climate change, and support the use of future focus groups with this
population. This project corroborates the use of multiple methodological
approaches to investigate unique experiences of marginalized groups of
students as a means of stimulating new empowerment research and identifying
ways to promote positive social change.