Differences in the Perceptions and Uses of Educational Benefits of Veterans as a Function of Race/Ethnicity and Gender: A National Analysis

Purpose

The primary purpose of this journal-ready dissertation was to determine the degree to which differences were present in the perceptions and uses of educational benefits between male and female student veterans. Specifically addressed was the extent to which male and female veterans perceived their educational benefits as an important factor in meeting their life goals. Another purpose was to examine the degree to which differences were present in the perceptions of the importance of educational benefits between Hispanic male veterans and Hispanic female veterans and between Black and Hispanic male veterans and between Black and Hispanic female veterans.

Method

A non-experimental, causal-comparative research design (Creswell, 2014; Johnson & Christensen, 2014) was used in this study. An archival dataset, specifically data from veterans who completed the 2010 National Survey of Veterans (NSV), including: Active Duty Service Members, the Demobilized National Guard, Reserve Members, Family Members, and Surviving Spouses, were analyzed herein.

Findings

Most female veterans reported that educational benefits were extremely important. Yet, nearly 20% of female veterans received other education or training assistance outside of VA education assistance, in comparison to male veterans. However, more than half of male veterans reported that they had participated in an apprenticeship or job training and flight training program compared to female veterans. Additionally, more than three-fourths (i.e., 88.2%) of Hispanic female veterans revealed that educational benefits were extremely important compared to less than half (i.e., 49.6%) of Hispanic male veterans. More Hispanic female veterans also reported that they had attended a teacher certification program compared to no Hispanic male veterans. In regard the degree to which the perceptions and educational benefit use differed between Black male veterans and Hispanic male veterans and Black female veterans and Hispanic female veterans, similar percentages were shared on all survey items for both groups. In all three articles in this journal-ready dissertation, implications for policy and for practice were made. Moreover, recommendations for future research were also made in all three articles.