“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” - Carl Sagan
My Current Research Study
Keywords: Gender equality; women's empowerment; SDG4; SDG5; Freely Associated States;
Compact of Free Association; higher education; motivations and barriers; socioeconomic status
Where in the World?
The Freely Associated States (FAS)
Three, independent, democratic nations in the Oceania Region of the South Pacific.
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Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
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Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
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Republic of Palau
To learn more about the FAS, click HERE.
Photo by: Nick Zoe
Who Am I Learning About?
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Women
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Seeking an academic degree or professional certification
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Attending Palau Community College (PCC), the College of Micronesia (COM), or the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI)
What Is the Question?
Is there a relationship between socioeconomic status, perceptions of motivations and barriers to higher education, and the academic achievements of women attending postsecondary institutions in the FAS?
What Are the Variables?
1st Independent Variable:
Socioeconomic Status (SES)
*measured by self-reported household income
2nd Independent Variable:
Perceptions of Motivations to Higher Education (MH) *measured by 15 Likert-scale questions
3rd Independent Variable:
Perceptions of Barriers to Higher Education (BH) *measured by 15 Likert-scale questions
Dependent Variable:
Academic Achievement (AA)
*measured by self-reported Grade Point Average (GPA)
Questions taken from Kimmel et al.'s (2012) Motivations and
Barriers to Higher Education for Online Learners Questionnaire.
What Is the Plan?
Methodology: Quantitative, cross-sectional survey
Instrument: Self-reporting questionnaire
Analysis: Multiple linear regression
Step 1: Complete data collection
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Promote study by sharing invitation on social media
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Collect data from participants using Survey Monkey
Step 2: Analyze data
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Transfer data from Survey Monkey to SPSS
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Clean data and check that assumptions are met
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Complete the analysis
Step 3: Explain the results
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Discuss findings and implications for social change
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Disseminate final analysis to decision-makers and stakeholders
To read Chapter 3: Research Method, click HERE.
(Louis Monier / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
What is My Theory?
The study is grounded by Immanuel Wallerstein's (1974) world-systems theory. According to world-systems theory, the endless accumulation of capital drives developed countries to politically control and physically exploit less developed countries.
To read the theoretical section of my proposal, click HERE.
Breaking Down the Variables
Get the Basics
Proposal Oral Defense
December 15, 2025
What is COFA?
Study Invitation
