scholarly journals Investigating the Relationship between Residence Learning Community Participation and Student Academic Outcomes in a Canadian Institution

Author(s):  
Justine O Hobbins ◽  
Mildred Eisenbach ◽  
Kerry L Ritchie ◽  
Shoshanah Jacobs

This study investigated the relationship between residential living scenario and first year grades, second year retention, and 5-year graduation rates of students at a Canadian comprehensive university. We compared the academic outcomes of students living in residence learning communities (RLCs) to those in other living scenarios (traditional residences and off-campus). RLCs have been shown to be positively associated with student academic outcomes in the United States; however, the data to support RLCs in Canada is non-existent. A longitudinal observational study was conducted to analyse the academic outcomes of a complete cohort of students (n=4805) who lived in RLCs (18%) and non-RLCs (82%). Results indicated that RLC students, on average, achieved higher first year averages, 2nd year retention rates, and 5-year graduation rates relative to non-RLC students, thereby contributing to the goals of post-secondary institutions to attract and retain their students through to graduation. Cette étude examine la relation qui existe entre le scénario où les étudiants vivent en résidence et les notes obtenues en première année d’études, la rétention en deuxième année et l’obtention des diplômes en cinquième année dans une université canadienne polyvalente. Nous avons comparé les résultats académiques d’étudiants qui vivaient dans des communautés d’apprentissage en résidence (CAR) et ceux des étudiants qui vivaient selon d’autres scénarios (résidence traditionnelle et hors campus). Il a été prouvé qu’aux États-Unis, les CAR sont associées favorablement aux résultats académiques des étudiants. Toutefois, les données pour soutenir les CAR au Canada sont inexistantes. Une étude d’observation longitudinale a été menée pour analyser les résultats académiques d’une cohorte complète d’étudiants (n=4805) qui vivaient dans une CAR (18 %) et ceux d’étudiants qui vivaient autrement (82 %). Les résultats ont indiqué qu’en moyenne, les étudiants qui vivaient dans une CAR avaient obtenu de meilleures notes en première année, avaient réalisé un taux de rétention supérieur en deuxième année et un meilleur pourcentage d’obtention de diplômes en cinquième année, par rapport aux étudiants qui ne vivaient pas dans une CAR, ce qui contribue à répondre aux objectifs des établissements d’enseignement post-secondaire d’attirer et de retenir leurs étudiants jusqu’à que ceux-ci obtiennent leur diplôme.

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-274
Author(s):  
Hannah B Mudrick ◽  
JoAnn L Robinson ◽  
Holly E Brophy-Herb

Although 3-year-olds in the United States may attend prekindergarten prior to formal school entry in kindergarten, few investigations focus on the socioemotional foundations of classroom learning at age 3 and their relationship to later achievement. This study examined the relationship between age 3 readiness for group-based learning, modeled as the latent constructs, effortful control and social communication, and age 5 classroom adjustment and pre-academic outcomes. Data from the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project in the United States ( n = 797) included observations, direct assessment, and examiner and teacher report. Children’s effortful control predicted classroom adjustment and their social communication predicted pre-academic outcomes. Readiness for group-based learning provides a way to describe key constructs of early skill development and a framework to support children’s classroom learning. Implications include promoting parents’ and educators’ capacities to support early developmental foundations for later adjustment and learning by fostering infants’ and toddlers’ effortful control and social communication. Efforts to support these skills simultaneously across diverse experiences in the home and classroom by focusing on children’s individual needs may prove advantageous.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hoffer

Body image is emerging as a multi-faceted and complex topic in developmental science. A sizeable body of literature has demonstrated effects of body image on disordered eating and socioemotional outcomes. However, very few studies have attempted to explore the relationship between body image and academic outcomes. Additionally, much of the research in body image has been conducted with predominantly female samples. Moreover, body image measures are inconsistent and often biased toward female body standards, raising the question of how relevant these measures are for male populations. Thus, this systematic review has the following objectives: (1) determine what the relationship is between body image and academic outcomes for boys; (2) determine what moderates that relationship, focusing on variables of age and measurement. This study will be registered using PsyArXiv.


2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Rebeca Mireles-Rios ◽  
Odelia Simon ◽  
Karen Nylund-Gibson

Background/Context The relationship between perceived discrimination and students’ academic outcomes is well established, showing the negative effects of experiences of discrimination. Although much attention has focused on how to temper these effects for students, few studies have focused on the potential role that teachers can play in lessening the effects of discrimination on student outcomes. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study In this study, we look at the intersection of race/ethnicity and gender by examining at how Latinx male and female high school students’ academic outcomes, such as grade point average, are impacted by their perceived level of discrimination and teacher support. Research Design Using an intersectional framework, this study uses data from 783 Latinx adolescents (Mage = 16.01 years) in the United States. Specifically, we examine the moderating role of perceived teacher support on the relationship between students’ discrimination and their academic performance using a moderated factor analysis approach. Findings/Results Results indicate that the items that measure perceived discrimination and teacher support do not function in the same way for Latinx male and female adolescents and that emotional teacher support buffers the negative relationship between discrimination and academic performance for Latinx males. Conclusions/Recommendations We argue the need to construct measures and approach interventions in the areas of discrimination and teacher support that would allow us to better identify how to support Latinx adolescents in the most effective ways.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandrea R. Golden ◽  
Charity Brown Griffin ◽  
Isha W. Metzger ◽  
Shauna M. Cooper

Using a risk and resilience framework, the current investigation explored the relationship between school racial climate and academic outcomes among African American adolescents. Additionally, this study examined whether positive peer characteristics (e.g., peer support; peer academic values) were a protective factor for African American youth who reported perceiving a negative school racial climate. Participants were 126 middle school students (65% female), ranging in age from 11 to 15 years, who resided in the Midwestern region of the United States. Moderating relationships partially supported hypotheses. Findings revealed that peer values moderated the association between interracial interactions and African American adolescents’ academic values, as well as the relationship between fairness and racial equity and classroom effort. Results suggest that peer academic values may be an important contextual factor for understanding the association between school racial climate and academic outcomes. Implications of findings for prevention programming are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 009862832110184
Author(s):  
Christine Ma-Kellams ◽  
Roy Kwon

Objective: How do learning communities influence academic performance in Introductory Psychology? Method: The present research examines the relationship between participation in first-year students learning communities and academic performance across a variety of course requirements (midterms, finals, papers, and class participation) in introductory psychology and, for comparison, sociology courses. Results: Students who took Introductory Psychology as part of a first-year-student learning community outperformed their peers (who took the same course without a learning community) on the first exam of the semester and were less likely to miss assignments but otherwise showed no significant differences on the other course assignments; introductory sociology students part of these communities showed even greater differences in performance that lasted through the end of the semester. Conclusion: First-year students learning communities offers significant albeit limited benefits for student performance in introductory courses in the social sciences. Teaching Implications: Short of institutional efforts to enact programming for first-year learning communities, introductory psychology instructors can attempt to simulate the experience of such communities by promoting a sense of belonging via extra-curricular service or discipline-related activities.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-71
Author(s):  
Erin Richter-Weikum ◽  
Kevin Seeber

This study investigates the library experiences of transfer students at an urban commuter campus in the United States with approximately 20,000 students, 8,500 of whom previously attended another institution. Using a mixed methods approach, we surveyed and interviewed transfer students to gain a better understanding of their use of libraries and their comfort with locating information both before and after transferring between post-secondary institutions. Our findings indicate that there is not a standard “transfer student experience,” although usage of library resources at past institutions does affect students’ perceptions. Subsequently, librarians should develop outreach efforts and information literacy instruction that go beyond first-year students and acknowledge the research skills transfer students bring with them.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Beatriz E. Ruiz Silva ◽  
Fred Fate ◽  
Jennifer Roundtree ◽  
Maxine Estick

<span>Low income American students from families where neither parent has attended college are at high risk of dropping after high school. To help these students begin college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in the economic and social life of the United States, Congress established the TRIO (three) program in 1965. Currently, over 2000 projects are hosted at over 1200 post-secondary institutions and more than 100 community agencies.</span>


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodan Hu

Objective: This study examines whether Louisiana’s performance-based funding (PBF) implementation in 2011 impacts various academic outcomes at community colleges, and whether the impact varies for institutions with higher proportions of underrepresented students. Method: Using institutional-level panel data between 2006 and 2016, I employ difference-in-differences to estimate the average treatment effect of the Granting Resources and Autonomies for Diplomas (GRAD) Act on credential production, retention, and graduation rates of Louisiana’s community colleges. I also examine how this effect differs between minority-serving-institutions (MSI) and non-MSIs, as well as between low-income-student-serving institutions (LSI) and non-LSI by calculating difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) estimates. Results: The findings indicate that PBF implementation is positively related to community colleges’ certificate production and graduation rates in Louisiana, but it has no impact on associate degree production or retention rates. Due to PBF implementation, LSIs grant fewer associate degrees than comparable non-LSI institutions. No disparate impact is found between MSIs and comparable non-MSIs. Contributions: Given the prevalence of PBF in the nation, this study examines the overall impact of PBF implementation on academic outcomes of community colleges in Louisiana, and it further disaggregates the community colleges by institutional characteristics, providing evidence for researchers and policymakers to support broad access and student success at MSIs and LSIs under PBF.


2020 ◽  
pp. 194855062093822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah J. Birnbaum ◽  
Nicole M. Stephens ◽  
Sarah S. M. Townsend ◽  
MarYam G. Hamedani

In the United States, underrepresented racial minority (URM) students continue to face psychological barriers that undermine their achievement and fuel disparities in academic outcomes. In the current research, we tested whether a multicultural ideology intervention could improve URM students’ grade point averages (GPAs) during the first 2 years of college and thereby reduce the racial achievement gap. Specifically, first-year college students ( N = 407) read a diversity statement that represented the schools’ diversity ideology in terms of either multiculturalism or colorblindness. URM students who read a multicultural diversity statement earned higher GPAs 2 years later compared to those who read a colorblind diversity statement. Furthermore, they earned higher GPAs compared to a nonparticipant campus-wide control group. The current study is the first to demonstrate that multiculturalism can increase the long-term academic outcomes of URM students in college.


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