ERIC Number: EJ1192894
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Sep
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1527-9316
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Student Motivation and Perseverance: Do They Explain College Graduation?
Ashraf, Rasha; Godbey, Jonathan M.; Shrikhande, Milind M.; Widman, Tracy A.
Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v18 n3 p87-115 Sep 2018
We examine whether college students' persistence in finding a suitable major field of study influences the likelihood of graduation. We find that students who make an effort to select a suitable major early in their college careers graduate in a more timely fashion. Although changing majors is associated with delayed graduation, struggling students can improve graduation likelihood by switching to a more suitable major. However, performance improvement after switching is necessary for successful completion of a degree. These results indicate that colleges and universities should allocate resources to supporting students in their search for an appropriate major and empower students by providing course guidance and counseling.
Descriptors: Academic Persistence, Majors (Students), Graduation, College Students, Time to Degree, Student Attitudes, Achievement Gains, Student Characteristics, Grade Point Average, Grants, College Entrance Examinations, Racial Differences, Ethnicity, Gender Differences
Indiana University. 755 West Michigan Street UL 1180D, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: josotl@iupui.edu; Web site: http://www.iupui.edu/~josotl
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Georgia (Atlanta)
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: SAT (College Admission Test)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A