Foreword

This thesis is the academic outcome of a 3-year Research Studentship at Middlesex University, London.

It is an account of the study, research processes and analysis, discussion and conclusions of a project that has attempted to understand more about the impact of dyslexia on the academic confidence of university students in the UK.

Throughout the thesis and especially in the literature review sections, I have attempted to persistently connect the implications of theory to the circumstances and situations that many students at university know as their domain of study.

The thesis takes an unequivocal position which advocates a shift in the learning and teaching environment prevalent in most universities to one which properly accommodates diversity in learning in the same ways that clearly visible progress has been made in recent times to recognize and embrace diversities of faith, ethnicities and social backgrounds from across the wider community.

The thesis is available in these webpages and due to the length and complexity of the complete document, this online version is divided into principal sections published on separate webpages which will be faster to load in all web browsers. Links to each principal section are provided below and at the foot of every section page. Also provided on every page is the complete contents which sets of the structure of the thesis and also provides links to major sections and sub-sections of writing.

Principal Sections

OVERVIEW, RESEARCH QUESTIONS and STANCE
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES - the literature review
RESEARCH DESIGN - the methodology and methods
DATA and ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUDING COMMENTARY, APPENDICES and REFERENCES