To track student progress and develop a model of the total academic process at Prince George's Community College (PGCC), the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis acquired 5 years of background, behavioral, and outcome data for a cohort of first-time students entering the college. The academic process was broken down into three divisions:…

Reviews literature and discusses results of two national surveys to identify factors influencing participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. Notions of self-concept/self-efficacy, peer influence, and goal commitment, which can be traced to early socialization experiences, may account for most participation disparities by race…

A study of 545 academically underprepared undergraduates found that attitudes were predictors of later grade performance, that academic background was more important than attitudes, and that initial learner characteristics did not predict grade performance similarly for each ethnic group (Hispanic, Asian-American, African-American, White). The…

Analyzes data from a freshman survey instrument and three-year outcomes data to define differences in college-ready and underprepared students classified according to a computerized placement test. Describes significant differences between underprepared and college-ready students and discusses their findings in relationship to the literature on…

A study of over 3,000 British college and university students investigated the relationship of student language proficiency and student demographic and background characteristics. Proficiency levels were assessed by means of C-Tests, while associated questionnaires sought to explore biographical data, language learning background, residence…

This study used naturalistic inquiry methods to examine reasons why some members of minority groups, despite discouraging odds, persist in the sciences or science related disciplines. Interviews were conducted with 10 African American upperclassmen majoring in natural science or science related disciplines at a predominately white coeducational…

This paper tested the hypothesis that certain cognitive, affective, and psychomotor variables were significant predictors of college persistence in the first few weeks of the freshman year. Data for the study involved 462 freshmen, with an average age of 18, who matriculated in the fall of 1997 at a public higher education institution; about 93…

The Six Performance Characteristics rating, An Alverno College assessment technique used in the outcome-centered liberal arts curriculum, is discussed. The technique provides a means for faculty to judge students in a systematic way over time on developmental characteristics that apply to their performance across disciplines and across competence…

The New York City Adult Literacy Initiative was instituted in 1984. Approximately 22,000 students attended the city's literacy program in 1984, with the number increasing to nearly 50,000 by 1986. A study examined one year, 1985-1986, of the program's operation. Of the 49,986 students enrolled in 1985-1986, 40,754 were in bilingual education (BE)…

A study examined the career aspirations of disadvantaged students enrolled in vocational education programs. During the first phase of the study, the researchers reviewed the literature pertaining to the phenomenon of job aspirations as it pertains to or explains the disproportionate enrollment of disadvantaged students in low-level programs.…

A federally funded program in English as a Second Language involving 516 North and Central American immigrants in two Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., is described. The instruction began in 1981 in three public schools, and had good attendance and high student motivation. The following aspects of the program are outlined and discussed: (1)…

Four general problems (two substantive, two methodological) were addressed in a research project: (1) Does the nature of the pupil or the setting make a difference in the teaching style which is most effective? (2) Does the cognitive level of the learning objective make a difference? (3) How can relationships within the classroom be analyzed? and…

Demographic characteristics, interpersonal and academic problems, underlying motives and needs, and ultimate goals of nontraditional students at a four-year liberal arts college were evaluated based on survey responses. The students were enrolled in the spring semester 1981 at a suburban publicly-supported, commuter college, located in the…

This paper presents the results of a study designed to provide an empirical test of a learning theory proposed by McKenzie and Staaf in which the student effort enters as an argument in the learning achievement function. The model states that final achievement in economics is equal to the initial stock of knowledge plus improvement, where…

Approximately 700 questionnaires were mailed, and 365 usable responses obtained, in a study of persons who had inquired about the State University of Nebraska (SUN) spring 1975 telecourse offerings but who did not enroll. This working paper and executive summary compare the questionnaire respondents to SUN's fall 1975 learner population in terms…