Drinking Styles of College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) on college campuses have a more problematic style of drinking compared with their non-ACOA counterparts. Results indicated that ACOAs endorsed more problematic drinking patterns than did non-ACOAs. Implications discussed include identification of ACOAs and their specific counseling.     

Career Indecision in Adult Children of Alcoholics

This study investigated potential differences in career indecision for adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs) and adult children of non-alcoholics (non-ACOAs) attending college. Using a sample of community college students, the relationships among irrational thinking, anxiety and career indecision were compared between ACOAs and non-ACOAs. ACOAs received significantly higher scores than non-ACOAs on state anxiety, p < .01, trait anxiety, p < .001. (as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; Speilberger, Gorsuch, and Lushene, 1983.) Although both groups were similar in their overall levels of career indecision, there were significant relationships among irrational thinking, trait anxiety and career identity for ACOAs that were less present for non-ACOAs. Results of this study suggest career indecision may be more chronic and problematic for ACOAs than for non-ACOAs.     

Examining Victimization and Psychological Distress in Transgender College Students

Treatment‐seeking and non‐treatment‐seeking transgender college students were examined with regard to victimization and psychological distress. Findings showed that transgender college students had elevated rates of distress as compared with college students who identified as men or women. Results indicated that treatment‐seeking and non‐treatment‐seeking transgender college students did not significantly differ with regard to psychological distress or experiences of victimization, with the exception of rates of suicidal ideation.     

MINORITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO TRANSFER TO FOUR‐YEAR COLLEGES: A STUDY OF A MATCHED SAMPLE OF B.A. RECIPIENTS AND NON‐RECIPIENTS

In order to study the factors promoting and inhibiting transfer and the attainment of the bachelors degree, we conducted telephone interviews with 48 minority students who had received Ford Foundation Upper Division Scholarships between 1971 and 1975 and who had transferred from a two‐year to a four‐year college. Each of the 24 pairs consisted of one bachelors degree recipient and one non‐recipient who were matched according to the following criteria: gender, race/ethnicity, age, parents education and occupation and initial community college major. In high school, the bachelors degree recipients had stronger academic backgrounds than the non‐recipients. In community colleges, the bachelors degree recipients were more likely to see their instructors and counselors as “helpful” and to be members of a campus organization than non‐recipients. In four‐year colleges, the bachelors degree recipients were less likely to have lost credits when they transferred and more likely to belong to student organizations and to see their classmates as “helpful” than non‐recipients. We relate these findings to previous research on the importance of social integration into college life.

     

STUDENTS WHO DROP OUT BEFORE THEY BEGIN: A STUDY OF POTENTIAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO INITIATE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BUT FAIL TO ENROLL

A follow‐up was conducted on groups of students who initiated steps in the admission process at a community college, but never enrolled. These students were telephone surveyed and compared to similar groups of students who actually enrolled. The stated reasons for non‐enrollment were job issues, financial aid, and personal reasons. Yet when the pre‐admission basic skills tests were compared, the non‐enrolling students had significantly lower scores, leading the authors to conclude that poor academic preparation was a very important reason for non‐enrollment.     

The value of instrumental and affective communication skills in different relational stages

The focus of this study was to assess the value that college students place on instrumental and affective communication skills across progressive relational stages in same‐sex relationships. Existing measures were utilized for affective and instrumental skills, however a newly developed communication skill (companionship) was also included. Relational stages included non‐unit (acquaintance), pre‐unit (testing friendship potential), unit (friend), and super‐unit (special friend). Results indicated that participants in non‐unit relationships valued some affective communication skills less tlian did those in pre‐unit, unit, and super‐unit relationships. All relational stages valued instrumental skills equally. Some gender differences were noted.     

First‐Generation Undergraduate Students' Social Support,Depression, and Life Satisfaction

First‐generation undergraduate students face challenging cross‐socioeconomic cultural transitions into college life. The authors compared first‐ and non‐first‐generation undergraduate students’ social support, posttraumatic stress, depression symptoms, and life satisfaction. First‐generation participants reported less social support from family and friends, more single‐event traumatic stress, less life satisfaction, and marginally more depression symptomatology than non‐first‐generation participants, but significant generation–gender interactions showed first‐generation women doing worse and first‐generation men doing better than others.     

First‐Generation Students' Sense of Belonging,Mental Health,and Use of Counseling Services at Public Research Universities

This study explored 1st‐generation students' sense of belonging, mental health status, and use of mental health services in comparison to non‐1st‐generation students. Using the Student Experience in the Research University multi‐institutional survey, the authors found that 1st‐generation students tended to report lower ratings of belonging, greater levels of depression/stress, and lower use of services compared to non‐1st‐generation students. Implications for college counselors and suggestions for future inquiry are provided.     

Differences in the Scientific Epistemological Views of Undergraduate Students

The purpose of this study was to examine whether science and non‐science major students have different scientific epistemological views (SEVs). A multidimensional instrument previously developed by the authors was used to assess differences in college students’ SEV of various aspects. A total of 220 freshmen (42% science and 58% non‐science majors) attending two public universities participated in this investigation. Results indicated that the science majors have less sophisticated beliefs in the theory‐laden and cultural‐dependent aspects of science than non‐science majors. Analysis of variance results further revealed significant differences in SEV dimensions among the three major fields: non‐science, pure science, and science education. Science education students gained the lowest scores on the entire scale among the groups. Findings of this study imply that science major (including science education) students might be involved longer in such an epistemic environment that described scientific knowledge as objective and universal. It is also possible that beliefs about certainty and objectivity lead these students to select science as their major field. Implications for future research and science teacher education are discussed.     

The Role of Generational Status,Self‐Esteem,Academic Self‐Efficacy,and Perceived Social Support in College Students' Psychological Well‐Being

This study examined the influences of generational status, self‐esteem, academic self‐efficacy, and perceived social support on 367 undergraduate college students' well‐being. Findings showed that 1st‐generation students reported significantly more somatic symptoms and lower levels of academic self‐efficacy than did non‐1st‐generation students. In addition, students' generational status was found to moderate predictive effects of perceived family support on stress. Implications for professional practices, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.     

An acquaintance rape education program for students transitioning to high school

Based on Parrot's work with college students, a six‐activity acquaintance rape prevention program for first‐year high school students living in a rural South Carolina community was implemented and evaluated. The program decreased students' acceptance of rape myths compared with non‐participating students both on a scale developed by Burt and on additional items measuring acquaintance rape. Attitudes toward dating violence did not change. Research limitations are discussed, and practical suggestions for sex education are presented.     

当代大学生树立正确民族观刍议--基于贵州三所高校的调查与思考

当代大学生主流民族观是客观理性、正确健康的,但也存在一些非主流、非理性、主观性的谬误与偏差。文章基于贵州部分大学生民族观现况的调查分析,并就大学生树立正确民族观的时代意义及途径进行了探讨。     

Accelerating the educational progress of intellectually gifted youths 1

Aptitude and achievement tests designed for much older students are invaluable for finding extremely high ability at younger ages. Results of the first two years of the Study of Mathematically and Scientifically Precocious Youth are examined to show that considerable educational acceleration is not only feasible but also desirable for those young people who are eager to move ahead. Skipping school grades, taking college courses part‐time, studying in special courses, and entering college early are inexpensive and supplemental to regular school practices. We do not advocate the usual in‐grade, non‐accelerative “enrichment”; procedures often recommended for intellectually gifted children. An heuristic overview is presented of the main assumptions and findings of the Study thus far.     

Wellness of Undergraduates: Comparisons of Traditional and Nontraditional Students

Wellness scores of 1,249 traditional and 318 nontraditional undergraduate college students revealed low levels of wellness in multiple areas in comparison with non‐student adults and within‐group differences according to demographic variables. Profiles of wellness for traditional‐ and nontraditional‐age students revealed significant differences on 4 subscales. Nontraditional students of color scored lower than traditional Caucasian students on Total Wellness and several component indices. Implications for student development and counseling programs are discussed.     

Analysis of verbal interactions during an extended,open‐inquiry general chemistry laboratory investigation

This study explores effects of participation by second‐semester college general chemistry students in an extended, open‐inquiry laboratory investigation. Verbal interactions among a student lab team and with their instructor over three open‐inquiry laboratory sessions and two non‐inquiry sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. Coding categories were developed using the constant comparison method. Findings indicate that, during open‐inquiry activities, the student team interacted less often, sought less instructor guidance, and talked less about chemistry concepts than during their non‐inquiry activities. Evidence suggests that the students employed science process skills and engaged in higher‐order thinking during both types of laboratory activities. Implications for including open‐inquiry experiences in general chemistry laboratory programs on student understanding of science as inquiry are discussed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 44: 1160–1186, 2007     

基于“学绩制”视角的民办高校人才培养模式新探

民办高校的学生生源构成较为复杂,他们的基础参差不齐,学习压力大,学科差异大。民办高校教育工作难做,教学实效性差,这已经是民办高校中的普遍现象。如何创新民办高校人才培养模式,提高民办高校的教学质量,把民办高校大学生培养成具有高尚情操的现代化实用型人才,是所有民办高校工作者面对的共同课题。青岛滨海学院基于学绩制改革的成功做法,将对其他民办高校人才培养模式的探索起到一定的启发和借鉴作用。     

AWARE: A Personalized Normative Feedback–Based Group Intervention for Mandated College Students

AWARE is a brief group intervention that was built upon the principles of personalized normative feedback with novel components (Penn State Altoona, n.d.). The purpose of this study was to pilot test the intervention with mandated college students who were referred for alcohol‐related violations (N = 283). Results showed significant postintervention changes. Significant interaction effects between time and race and between time and gender were found. Reduction in the consumption of alcohol use and perception of peer alcohol use were significantly different among non‐White and female participants.     

Redefining self and success: becoming teachers and doctors

This study explores how twenty‐eight women graduates of a liberal arts college renegotiate personal and professional identities over a ten year period. Approximately half of these women entered college planning to pursue a career in medicine; the other half indicated some interest in the field of education. Each participant was interviewed six times over the course of ten years. Analysis suggests that prior designations of women's careers as “traditional” (i.e. teaching) and “non‐traditional” (i.e. medicine) no longer apply as women actively reconceptualize their lives, their identities, their definitions of success, and the meaning of their chosen career. Prior studies that examine the balancing of personal and professional lives also simplify a more complicated process experienced by women who explore multiple understandings of themselves within personal and social structures. The women in this study draw on the critical perspectives learned in college as they recognize and respond to competing social and cultural definitions and discourses of success, work, and self.     

STAFF DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND PRACTICES IN U.S. COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The staff development goals and activities of United States community colleges were studied. A total of 1,315 questionnaires were mailed to community college academic deans in the spring of 1979. Of the 687 colleges responding, 413 indicated that their college had an organized staff development program or set of activities, and another 241 colleges indicated no such program at this time.

The results showed that the most frequently mentioned staff development goals of the 31 goals studied related to the improvement of the full‐time teaching faculty as opposed to part‐time faculty and other academic and non‐academic support personnel. Second, the most highly rated and used practices were travel and grants programs for faculty. Some of the least effective of 48 practices investigated were programs for the “faculty evaluation of college administrators” and “lighter than normal teaching loads for first‐year faculty.”

It is recommended that colleges offer a variety of staff development programs for each of their staff development groups and that research be conducted to determine participant perceptions of the usefulness of various staff development practices.     

Perceptions of Parents and Self Among College Students Reporting Learning Disabilities

Of 1773 college students who completed self‐administered questionnaires, 80 indicated they had been diagnosed as having a learning disability (LD). Those students were then compared on measures of self concept and recalled family stress, and reported personal problems with those who indicated no LD. It was found that the LD participants, in comparison with their non‐LD peers, tended to view themselves and their parents more negatively, recall more family stress during childhood and adolescence and report more drug abuse problems, delinquency and suicidal thoughts.