The Power of Relationships in the Academic Success of Mexican Descent Students: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is often overlooked in regards to policy development and practices. This is due to the critique that it lacks the capability to determine cause and effect in educational settings. The advent of qualitative metasynthesis has provided one route to such studies becoming more generalizable. This study implements such a study in the effort to develop an understanding of what conditions lead to the successful completion of high school for Mexican-descent students. The ten research projects that met the criteria for inclusion in this study were analyzed and the results were synthesized. One condition was found to be prevalent in all of the studies, the development of relationships with school personnel (teachers in particular) and peers.