The College of Education, Health and
Human Sciences
Announces the Final Examination of
Edwina Thomas Washington
for the degree of
Doctor of Education
March 31, 2014 at 1:00 pm
301 Browning Hall, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Biographical Sketch
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Purdue University
Master of Business Administration, Emory University
Juris Doctor, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
Advisor Committee
Mitsunori Misawa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership, Committee chair
Larry McNeal, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Leadership
Barbara Mullins Nelson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Leadership
William Akey, Ed.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership
Major Field of Study
Higher and Adult Education
Period of Preparation: 2010 – 2014
Comprehensive Examination Passed: April 2013
Why Did you Tweet That? An Examination of Cyberbullying Among Undergraduate Students at an Urban Research University
Abstract
Bullying has graduated from high school to college and occurs in higher education. The proliferation of electronic technology has provided a new forum for bullies to harm victims. That is, bullies transmit harmful text messages, photos or video over the Internet and other digital communication devices to victims. This malpractice of technology oriented phenomenon known as cyberbullying has become a social problem. College students who have been cyberbullied have committed suicide, dropped out or endured torment while in school. However, limited research exists on cyberbullying in higher education. The purpose of this research was to examine cyberbullying in the context of higher education to reveal the characteristics, prevalence, and impact of cyberbullying on college students at an urban research university in the South. The study was based on a questionnaire of undergraduate college students between the ages of 18 and 24. Of the 140 participants who responded to the questionnaire, 12% were cyberbullied, 6% were not sure whether they had been cyberbullied, and 82% had not been cyberbullied. Frequent forms of cyberbullying involved looking at cell phones, reading emails, gossiping online, making fun of others online, and calling people mean names online. Methods most used to cyberbully were Facebook, Twitter, cellphone, and texting. Cyberbullying most likely occurred based on one’s sexual orientation and race. Victims indicated that cyberbullying made them feel angry and hurt and they considered dropping out of college because of cyberbullying or it made it harder for them to concentrate on their studies.