Uploaded August 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For the Love of God: A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Experiences and the Impact of the Belief System of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Students Enrolled at Secular Higher Education Institutions - Michael O. Miller
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Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
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Abstract: The focus of this proposed phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) students enrolled at secular higher education institutions and how the JW organization, along with its doctrines, impacts their collegiate experiences. A historical perspective of the JW organization, including its religious belief system, is presented to provide context for the proposed study. The study aims to answer three research questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses students who attend secular higher education institutions? (2) How do the Jehovah's Witnesses organization and its doctrines impact the experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses students attending secular higher education institutions? (3) How can educators help incorporate and support Jehovah's Witnesses students in secular higher education institutions?
The research questions will be addressed by conducting a series of three semi-structured interviews (Seidman, 2019) with five JW student participants who meet the sample criteria. Additionally, document analysis will be conducted on the JW organization's Watchtower Bible and Tract Society magazines and pamphlets, Awake and Watchtower. This proposed research study aims to contribute to the limited published research on JW students at secular higher education institutions and provide valuable insights for JW students making decisions about student services and programs. It also offers recommendations, strategies, and resources to educators and administrators seeking to support JW students.
For the Love of God: A Phenomenological Study Exploring the Lived Experiences and the Impact of the Belief System of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Students Enrolled at Secular Higher Education Institutions - Michael O. Miller
-
Disclaimer: This session was delivered for the 2023 ICSA Conference. The speaker of this session does not speak on behalf of ICSA as an organization.
-
Abstract: The focus of this proposed phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) students enrolled at secular higher education institutions and how the JW organization, along with its doctrines, impacts their collegiate experiences. A historical perspective of the JW organization, including its religious belief system, is presented to provide context for the proposed study. The study aims to answer three research questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses students who attend secular higher education institutions? (2) How do the Jehovah's Witnesses organization and its doctrines impact the experiences of Jehovah's Witnesses students attending secular higher education institutions? (3) How can educators help incorporate and support Jehovah's Witnesses students in secular higher education institutions?
The research questions will be addressed by conducting a series of three semi-structured interviews (Seidman, 2019) with five JW student participants who meet the sample criteria. Additionally, document analysis will be conducted on the JW organization's Watchtower Bible and Tract Society magazines and pamphlets, Awake and Watchtower. This proposed research study aims to contribute to the limited published research on JW students at secular higher education institutions and provide valuable insights for JW students making decisions about student services and programs. It also offers recommendations, strategies, and resources to educators and administrators seeking to support JW students.
