Who I Am and What I Do Is in My Hands: A Qualitative Study on High-Achieving College Students’ Perceptions of Agency Experiences

This qualitative research study investigated the agency perceptions of students who had applied to a highly selective research program at a northeastern university in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which high-achieving college students feel it is important to experience ownership over educational experiences and how these students describe their responses to agentic opportunities. This study was modeled in accordance with Social Cognitive Theory, which posits that individuals desire and exercise agency through self-regulative, evaluative, and adaptive behaviors and constructivism, which suggests that individuals actively construct knowledge informed by their interactions with their environments. Eleven undergraduate students were selected to participate in two interviews. Thematic Analysis was used to analyze data across these interviews. This study revealed three themes: (a) Recognition of Personal Agency; (b) Authenticity; and (c) Taking Initiative.