A dissertation on student persistence in RNBS completion online programs led to Strevy’s award.

Dr. Sonia Strevy, assistant professor of nursing in IWU’s School of Nursing and Coordinator of GROW Nurses, received the 2009 Nursing Education Research Section Dissertation Award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society.

GROW (Grow and Raise Our Workforce) Nurses is an initiative of Indiana Wesleyan University and designed to address health care disparity in Grant County by encouraging underrepresented populations to consider nursing as a career. Strevy earned her Ph.D. in nursing research from Indiana University this year and teaches nursing leadership and management.

Strevy was selected for the award based on her dissertation work on the persistence of students in RNBS completion online programs. “I was interested in characteristics of a student who, in spite of all the demands of an adult life—including social, family and church responsibilities—persists and completes their online degree. What makes that person different from those who have fewer challenges and yet don’t persist?”

Research unveils variables for motivation

The most significant findings from her research were that goal commitment and satisfaction were the most important variables in academic motivation. “I also found that goal commitment was partially mediated by cost benefit appraisal,” she says.

Strevy’s dissertation research is significant, says Diane M. Billings, Chancellor’s Professor Emeritus at the Indiana University School of Nursing, because of the estimated up to 50 percent drop-out rate from online programs during a time when there is a nurse shortage. “The findings from her study will be helpful to faculty and to other researchers,” wrote Billings in a letter nominating Strevy for the award. “One interesting variable was the use of ‘cost/benefit,’ or the notion that students will continue to persist in courses as long as they can see the benefit of continuing. This has implications for educators who can then monitor students to determine if they are continuing to find benefit from their studies.”

Strevy’s other professional awards include the Education Research Award from the Indiana Council for Continuing Education, a federal research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and fellowships from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.