This paper is a follow-up to a previous study, in which students (predominately life science majors) were found to self-express achievement goals with regard to a pre-lab problem-solving exercise in an algebra-based introductory physics course. In this paper, the same sampled population was also asked in the same feedback survey to discuss what…

Filling the STEM pipeline from secondary schools to postsecondary institutions is essential for the nations' competitiveness in the 21st century. It is therefore crucial to motivate more high school students to consider entering one of the STEM fields and to prepare themselves by taking advanced coursework in STEM that will prime them for choosing…

Decisions regarding college majors have the potential to affect a person's overall academic performance and long-term career success. With Holland's (1997) trait-and-factor theory serving as a foundation, the authors examined relationships between person-environment fit, college major satisfaction, and grade point average of undergraduate students…

Despite efforts to attract and maintain diverse students in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline, issues with attrition from undergraduate STEM majors persist. The aim of this study was to examine how undergraduate science students' competence beliefs, task values, and perceived costs in science combine into motivational…

Developmental or remedial education is a strategy that assists underprepared or unprepared students. Though prominent in the higher education remedial education landscape, low course and degree completion rates plague developmental mathematics courses. Research is replete with studies addressing students' underpreparedness for college-level…

Using student-level data, this study explores the relationship between Latinx student representation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and student retention. Results revealed that a 1% increase in cohort-level Latinx student representation in STEM subfields is associated with a decrease in student departures from the…

This study examined how Latina/o undergraduate students' graduate and professional degree aspirations change during college. Using longitudinal data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with aspiring to earn a degree beyond a baccalaureate.…

This study explores the role of peer influence on students' decisions to participate in study abroad. Although previous research has identified many factors that relate to study abroad participation, peer influence represents an underexplored factor for consideration in this line of research. Using the tools of social network analysis, this study…

Students who receive architectural education are expected to be individuals who can think critically. For this reason, it becomes a necessity to cultivate creative individuals who are curious, inquiring and multifaceted thinkers. The aim of this research was to determine the levels of tendency for critical thinking of first-year and fourth-year…

In a national survey, advertising students rated themselves overall as above average on media literacy knowledge and attitudes, though 43% said they often are confused about the quality of news and information. Students exhibited higher degrees of understanding of and interest in the media literacy dimensions of "Messages and Meanings"…

This study investigates undergraduate STEM persistence through two-factor theory. Using nationally representative data and multinomial regression, we conceptualize known determinants of persistence as hygiene and motivator factors to test the persistence outcomes among college students who majored in STEM: earning a STEM degree, non-STEM degree,…

This dissertation focuses on microeconomic topics in the fields of public, labor and education. Particularly, this dissertation evaluates state policies in higher education and develops a global measure for job quality. Chapter 1 studies how state merit aid programs affect undergraduate degrees earned in Science, Technology, Engineering and…

Purpose: This study aims to consider assurance of learning among undergraduate business students enrolled in capstone business strategy courses using the GLO-BUS competitive simulation. Gender, academic major and business core course performance were examined. Design/methodology/approach: Participants were 595 undergraduate capstone business…

Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the effects of a number of demographic and academic factors, such as gender, age, nationality (Emirati vs non-Emirati), high school major (arts vs science) and high school score, on the academic performance -- measured by overall grade point average -- of undergraduate students majoring in statistics…

Retention of knowledge from school courses has long been a concern of educators and administrators. Bahrick (1979) offered the general sentiment that "much of the information acquired in classrooms is lost soon after final examinations" (p. 297). This negative outcome is exhibited in curriculum that feature course sequences, where…