Examining Two Types of Research for My Study of Micronesian Students at University

During the very first stages of determining on what I would like to conduct a small research, I identified that it would be an interesting study to examine what Micronesian college students are experiencing during college as they are influenced by economic, cultural, and social factors in terms of what motivates them to return to their home islands. So, I decided to take on a phenomenological approach to the study.

As my study progressed, I realize that an ethnographical approach to the study is necessary. Why? Because I'm specifically focused on a culture of Micronesian students attending university in the US. In addition, the phenomenological approach reveals that these are students who share a common experience in which they emigrate outside of their home islands in the Micronesia. Ethnographical approach allows me to examine how culture specifically influences these students. During the end of this short study, I find that these students do share common experiences that have been influenced significantly by their culture unique to the Micronesian islands as defined by their family values and developing island nation.

I took a phenomenological approach to the study to examine the perspectives and feelings of Micronesian students about the return to their home islands: what influences their decisions or plans to return home or remain in the US? According to Creswell (2007), a phenomonological study describes individuals' experience through their lived experience of a certain phenomenon. The study focuses on what and how the individuals experienced.

With this approach, I aimed to discover what the Micronesian students are experiencing as they undergo their transition from home in the Micronesian islands to studying in the US in relation to factors in which have influenced them during their transition and experience into perspectives and feelings about returning to their home islands to work or to remain in the US to work and make a living. Basically, I wanted to examine what Micronesian students felt about the idea of returning home to work and continue their lives in their home islands. The specific phenomenon examined in the study is the trend of students leaving their home islands to study in the US. Others return home while others choose to remain in the US.