Culture or No Culture? A Latino Critical Research Analysis of Latino Persistence Research

Abstract

The recent literature on Latino persistence does not take into account these students' distinct cultural backgrounds. Most researchers of Latino persistence use the selfdesignation "Latino" as a proxy variable representing Latino culture. A Latino Critical Theory (LatCrit) lens is applied to the persistence literature to demonstrate the need to infuse these studies with a focus on Latino culture. ResumenLa literatura reciente en retención latina no toma en consideración antecedentes culturales distintivos de estos estudiantes. La mayoría de los investigadores de persistencia latina usan el término auto designado "latino" como agente variable representante de la cultura latina. Se aplicó un lente de Teoría Crítica Latina (LatCrit) a la literatura en persistencia para demostrar la necesidad de infundir en estos estudios un enfoque sobre cultura latina.

Strengths-based Indicators of Success in Hispanic Undergraduates

“…With regard to the first variable (belongingness), there exist four explanations for the results encountered. First, the lack of relationship between persistence and engagement is in line with prior research challenging Tinto's (1975) applicability of Tinto's model of student attrition with regard to more racially and ethnically diverse student populations (Gonzalez & Morrison, 2016;Nora, 1987). Second, despite the preponderance of this model within higher education literature (Tight, 2019), the original research focused solely on four-year colleges.…”

Cuban American College Students’ Perceptions Surrounding Their Language and Cultural Identity

“…These tensions are present in the lives of Cuban American college students who are part of the ever-growing population of Hispanics in higher education (Flink, 2018; Page, 2013). Instead of combining this group together with other Hispanic or Latinx students (Gonzalez & Morrison, 2016), we first summarize the history of Cuban immigration and ethnic identity development to contextualize the self-perception of 10 Cuban American college students surrounding their identities and language proficiencies.…”

Interpersonal suicide risk for Latino/a Americans: Investigating thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and cultural factors of relevance

“…Investigators examining college student suicide and the applicability of the IPTS to Latino/as have often failed to consider Latino/a students' sense of adherence to their culture or to the majority culture (Acosta et al, 2017). Gonzalez and Morrison (2016) asserted that researchers cannot presume the extent to which Latino/a college students identify with their indigenous culture or the majority culture simply because those students report a general identification with the Latino/a culture. A general identification as a Latino/a or to the Latino/a culture can encompass a wide range of differing levels of acculturation and enculturation for any given individual.…”