The Relationship Of College Characteristics To Graduation

Author : David Herbert Fretwell
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 222 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (998 download)

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Download or read book Analysis of Selected Factors Relating to Academic Success, Utilization of Training and Return Home of Latin American Students who Have Graduated from the California State College System written by David Herbert Fretwell and published by . This book was released on 1972 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Purpose of the Study The purposes of this study were to (1) identify the educational and socioeconomic characteristics of Latin American students who have graduated from the California State College system, (2) to identify those characteristics which significantly affect academic success, utilization of training and return home to Latin America after graduation and (3) to develop mathematical models for prediction of academic success, utilization of training and return home. Procedures A total of 146 students were included in the sample for this study. These students had graduated from the California State College system in the five years prior to August 30, 1971. Socio-economic and educational characteristics were obtained through a search of college records, interviews with faculty and staff and the mailing of a questionnaire to the students included in the sample. Academic success was defined by grade point average and utilization of training was measured in percentage by the amount of college training used by a graduate in his present job. A correlation analysis was completed to determine the relationship among the three dependent variables academic success, utilization of training and return home as well as the relationship between each of the dependent variables and the independent variables included in the study, Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses identified those characteristics contributing most significantly to academic success and utilization of training. These analyses were also used to develop prediction equations for academic success and utilization of training. Discriminant analyses were completed to test the null hypothesis that there was no significant difference between the returning and non-returning group of students and to construct a prediction model for return or non-return to native country. Findings 1. The correlation analysis indicated the following: (a) There was no significant relationship among the three dependent variables: academic success, utilization of training and return home. (b) Six independent variables had a significant relationship with academic success. One, bachelor's degree, was negatively correlated while the remainder, graduate degree training, average English grade, prior college in native country, education major and scholarship financing, were positively correlated. (c) No independent variables were identified that had a significant relationship with the dependent variable utilization of training. (d) Two independent variables, contact with Latin America while training and vacations spent in Latin America were positively correlated with the dependent variable return home. It was emphasized that these were simple linear relationships that did not indicate' causality. 2. The results of the linear regression analysis related to academic success indicated: (a) Nine variables were significantly related to academic success. Four of these variables had a positive relationship: average English grade, education major, "other" major (including majors other than agriculture, business, engineering and education) and vacations spent in Latin America. Five of these variables had a negative relationship: return home, California State Polytechnic College - San Luis Obispo, California State College - Long Beach, time in the U.S. before graduation, and F visa. (b) A prediction equation was constructed for academic success, The equation constructed included the variables: San Francisco State College, California State College - Long Beach, California, State Polytechnic College - San Luis Obispo, age, education, major and "other" major. 3. The results of the linear regression analysis related to utilization of training indicated: (a) Twelve variables were significantly related to utilization of training. Six of these had a positive relationship: bachelor's degree, engineering major, father's occupation similar to student's field of study, contact with Latin America while training, Latin America high school training and present employment at a higher level. Six of these variables had a negative relationship: age, marriage during training, family financing and follow-up contact after graduation. (b) A prediction equation was constructed for utilization of training. The equation constructed included the variables: Fresno State College, prior employment in field of training, father's occupation similar and orientation program available. 4. The null hypothesis, stating that there was no significant difference between the returning and non-returning groups of students, could not be rejected on the basis of the discriminant analyses completed. Therefore a prediction model for return could not be constructed.