Social Identity in Hearing Youth who have Deaf Parents
Dr. Tracy Knight

Abstract
The purpose of this research study is to describe the perspectives of young children of deaf adults regarding their linguistic and cultural identity. Kodas represented an interesting subgroup of bilingual, bicultural, and bimodal children with diverse language and cultural backgrounds. This research study used the phenomenological qualitative research method to conclude the social identity of Kodas by having their “voice” be heard and documented in this dissertation. The researcher developed the questionnaires based on Henri Tajfel’s social identity theory under these three subgroups: Social Categorization, Social Identification, and Social Comparison. The researcher recruited 11 participants who were Kodas themselves aged 11 to 17 years old. The Kodas agreed to voice their experiences about being a Koda and how they felt, compared to other groups, and how they have learned more of their own identity by being a Koda. The researcher found major themes in three components of Tajfel’s social identity theory.

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