Personal factors that influence deaf college students' academic success

Research tells us that academic preparation is key to deaf students' success at college. Yet, that is not the whole story. Many academically prepared students drop out during their first year. This study identified entering deaf college students' personal factors as assessed by their individual responses to both the Noel-Levitz College Student Inventory Form B and the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory, second edition (LASSI). Entering students in 3 successive cohorts (total n =437) participated in this study. Results show that in addition to entry measurements of reading and mathematic skills, personal factors contributed to the academic performance of students in their first quarter in college. The Noel-Levitz provided the comparatively better predictive value of academic performance: Motivation for Academic Study Scale (e.g., desire to finish college). The LASSI also showed statistically significant predictors, the Self-Regulation Component (e.g., time management) and Will Component (e.g., self-discipline), but accounted for relatively less variability in the students' initial grade point averages. For this group of underprepared students, results show that personal factors can play a significant role in academic success. Deaf students' personal factors are discussed as they relate to other first-year college students and to their subsequent academic performance and persistence.     

Supplementing the ‘College Experience’ with Program-Based Learning Communities

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to examine the benefits of a learning community created for first-year students enrolled in a criminal justice degree program at an urban community college in the Northeast. Quantitative and qualitative survey data were collected from three cohorts of students in the program-based learning community. Survey questions examined students’ satisfaction with the learning community structure and their perceptions of social networking and academic skills gained from participation in the learning community. Quantitative data from the college’s records were used to compare the academic progress and retention of criminal justice students in the program-based learning to other first-year criminal justice students. Our findings indicate that participants had positive experiences in the learning community reporting satisfaction with the learning community structure and significant social networking and academic benefits from their participation in the learning community. Findings also indicated that program-based learning community students exhibited greater academic progress and were retained at higher rates than other first-year criminal justice students. This study substantiates the positive impact of program-based learning communities on students’ satisfaction, their academic success toward degree completion, and retention.     

Influences on students' internal locus of attribution for academic success in the first year of college

This study sought to determine the extent to which students' development of internal locus of attribution for academic success during the first year of college was influenced by institutional characteristics, students' academic experiences, and their social/nonacademic experiences. The sample was 2,392 first-year students attending 23 diverse two- and four-year institutions Iocated in 16 states throughout the country. Controlling for precollege internal attribution, academic ability, and other potentially confounding influences, a number of variables had significant, net, positive associations with end-of-first-year internal attribution. These included attending a two-year (versus a four-year) college, level of exposure to postsecondary education, work responsibilities, the extent of course organization, instructional clarity, and instructor support in the teaching received, and participation in intercollegiate athletics. Additional analyses indicated that many of the associations with internal attribution were conditional rather than general, differing in magnitude for different kinds of students.     

影响大学生心理健康的校园生活因素探析

本研究的目的是探讨影响大学生心理健康的校园生活因素及其相互关系。自编大学生校园生活事件量表，对787名大学生进行了测试。结果显示：（1）影响大学生心理健康的枝目因素主要包括：资源和环境、学业压力、负性事件和适应；（2）资源和环境因素对大学生心理健康的影响最大；（3）不同年级、性别的学生在各因素上表现出较显著的差异，不同住址学生在各因素上差异不显著；（4）适应始终影响大学生时期的心理健康。     

大学生主观幸福感与心理健康关系的研究

采用实证调查的方法,研究大学生主观幸福感和心理健康的状况。结果表明:大学生的生活满意度水平较高,正性情感和负性情感则均处于中等水平;大学生主观幸福感和SCL-90有显著的相关关系,生活满意度和负性情感以及生活满意度的各因子与SCL-90及其各因子也均具有显著的相关关系;主观幸福感水平可作为心理健康的一个重要预测源,同样心理健康水平也可预测被试者的幸福感水平。     

Is What Glitters Really Gold? A Quasi-Experimental Study of First-Year Seminars and College Student Success

First-year seminars are frequently designed to help students adjust to and succeed in college. Although considerable literature has explored this topic, many previous studies may have notable problems with self-selection, since students who choose to participate are likely more motivated academically than those who do not. Therefore, this study used quasi-experimental analyses within a large, longitudinal, multi-institutional dataset to explore the link between seminar participation and several student success outcomes. Overall, the use of propensity score analyses substantially alters the results, such that first-year seminars are positively associated with first-year college satisfaction, but they have no effect on fourth-year satisfaction, college grades, retention, or four-year graduation within the full sample. This lack of impact is largely consistent regardless of whether the seminar is designed to engage students in academic inquiry or to promote orientation and academic success. Additional analyses observed some differential effects of first-year seminars by race/ethnicity, ACT score, and sex; the most consistent finding is that first-year seminars appear to promote the college grades and college satisfaction of Black students. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.

     

The Mediating Effects of Approaches to Learning on the Academic Success of First-Year College Students

Students’ personal predictors of academic success are particularly relevant for first-year college students, given the specific challenges that these students face when entering higher education (HE). Academic success in HE has been related to multiple factors, including the students’ approaches to learning (SAL), satisfaction (linked to commitment and persistence), study time (effort), and prior academic achievement. This study analyzes the combined effect of these predictors on perceived academic success. Data from 247 students was collected using the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students and other specific measures to assess presage and process variables of academic success. Although academic success is multidimensional and difficult to explain, factors such as prior academic achievement, satisfaction with the course, SAL, and study time contribute to explain perceived academic success in first-year college students.     

Academic work, the Internet and U.S. college students

The aim of this study is to explore, based on a nationally representative sample, U.S. college students' uses of the Internet in their studies and their perceptions of academic life online, and changes in both perception and use since a 2002 report on the topic. Findings show that overall Internet use for academic purposes has increased. Students report generally positive opinions about the Internet's utility for academic work, but satisfaction with it for academic interactions may be on the decline.     

学生参与体育活动情况与性格特征的相关关系

针对在校大学生在体育锻炼及各选项课中人数比例、学习成绩、达标情况对比比较中所存在的性格及成绩的不同差异,采用别列克林心理检测表进行尝试,对学生性格与参加体育活动的相关关系进行了研究得出了他们之间的相关关系的结论。     

美国大学生的学术不诚信及其防范措施

研究大学生学术诚信有助于净化学术环境,提高学术质量。对美国大学生学术不诚信问题的研究发现,美国大学生学术不诚信较为严重,表现形式多样,其中有主观无知而陷入学术不诚信,更有为达到自己的目的而明知故犯的学术不诚信。美国高校为此采取了一系列措施:从大学新生开始进行学术诚信教育,开展多种形式的宣传教育活动,制定学术荣誉制度,建立打击学术不诚信网站,应用网络新技术加强监管,建立专门的学术诚信委员会。     

Big Five personality traits as predictors of the academic success of university and college students in early childhood education

Academic success in early childhood teacher education is important because it provides a foundation for occupational development in terms of professional competence, the quality of educational practices, as well as career success. Consequently, identifying factors that can explain differences in academic success is an important research task. Previous research has indicated that the Big Five personality traits can predict academic success in tertiary education even when other predictors have been accounted for. However, there is a lack of research regarding students in early childhood education. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of the Big Five on the academic success of college and university students in Germany who were studying early childhood education. Data from 567 college students and 270 university students were used. Several socio-demographic variables and the school-leaving Grade Point Average (GPA) served as controls. As hypothesised, students with higher conscientiousness also had better college and university GPAs. Furthermore, higher conscientiousness was associated with higher study satisfaction but only for college students. Unexpectedly, neuroticism was not negatively related to study satisfaction. In addition, there were exploratory findings concerning the effects of agreeableness, extraversion, neuroticism and openness. The findings are discussed with respect to implications for research and practice. In particular, the consequences with regard to the preparation of students in early childhood education are discussed.     

大学生宽恕水平与心理健康的相关研究

目的：了解当代大学生宽恕水平状况,并研究与心理健康状况的关系,为大学生心理健康教育提供依据。方法：用宽恕倾向量表、症状自评量表（SCL-90）分析男、女大学生和文、理科大学生的宽恕行为的特点以及与心理健康状况的关系。结果：总体上来说,大学生的宽恕水平处于中间状态的人比较多;宽恕水平在文理科上不存在差异,在性别上也不存在差异。宽恕总分越高的大学生其心理健康状况越好。     

浅析青年大学生中的"逆反心理"及其思想政治教育

对当代大学生逆反心理进行正确的估计,并采取正确的思想教育方法,是使思想教育取得成效的重要条件。本文就大学生逆反心理的形成以及如何抑制和消除教育对象的逆反心理,切实增强思想政治教育工作的实效进行了一些有益分析。     

论大学生的艺术教育与素质教育

艺术使人得以充实完美，懂得和实践艺术是大学生思维和心灵健康发展的基础。大学生在艺术参与过程中发展着自尊、自律、合作、自我激励、审美能力。这些无疑是大学生学习、生活成功的必要素质。艺术教育是素质教育的重要组成部分，也是提高大学生整体素质的途径之一。章在充分论证艺术教育对大学生素质和全面发展的重要作用的同时，对普通高校开展艺术教育活动的宗旨、对象、特点和内容提出几点建议。     

论礼仪教育与高师生成才发展

礼仪，作为中华民族和全人类的优良传统文化，是当代高师生提高人文素质和塑造良好形象不可或缺的修养内容。由于历史和现实的原因，高师生的礼仪修养水平却不容乐观。本文从现代人才培育的视角，论述了通过素质拓展的教育途径，对高师生进行礼仪教育，在道德自律、心理健康、交往能力和审美修养等成才发展方面产生的积极作用。     

An Investigation of Factors Relating to Retention of Student–Athletes Participating in NCAA Division II Athletics

Most studies investigating retention of college students have broadly looked at the entire student population. Few attempts have been made to determine if there are specific issues related to the retention of student–athletes. Factors involved in retaining student–athletes were examined by surveying two groups of participants currently enrolled or previously enrolled at a college participating at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II level. Student–athletes active in their sport and students no longer actively playing their sport were recruited. The survey consisted of 37 questions using a Likert Scale format as well as two open-ended questions. Eight areas related to retention were examined. Findings indicated that relationships with the head coach, satisfaction with the athletic department, team success, personal reasons, academic concerns, and player development were factors leading to retention or withdrawal from athletic participation. The findings of this study should aid college faculty, administrators, and coaches in their attempts to retain their student–athletes and also be helpful in recruiting practices related to this specific portion of the student body.     

福建省高校学生政治参与状况的调查

基于大学生还不是完整意义上的社会人，其政治参与不能仅以政治参与行为进行考量，政治参与意识尚是一个重要指标，因此，调查组采用单变量分析为主的分析方法，从学习政治理论知识、关注社会政治问题、参加政治活动、加入政治团体、投身政治生涯等方面，对福建省4所高校1000名全日制本科生政治参与的基本状况进行抽样问卷调查。结果显示：大学生的政治参与正蓬勃发展，呈现良好态势，但也存在一些倾向和问题，必须引起高度重视。鉴此，调查报告针对调查实况提出了一些建议。冀望促进大学生政治参与朝向好的方向发展。     

Values of open admissions students,police students,and their teachers

This study compared the values of college open admissions students and of college police students to their teachers' values. It was found that for both groups new students differ from the faculty more than do advanced students, suggesting value changes in the direction of the faculty. Also found was no relationship between students' value similarity to the faculty and their academic success.     

Determinants of students' satisfaction with course work: An international comparison between two universities

The present study attempts to develop a scale of students' general satisfaction with college instruction, to empirically assess the dimensions behind the scale, and to examine four predictors (sex, major, school year, and academic performance) which may affect the various factors of student's satisfaction with instruction. The study was conducted in two universities, one in Israel and one in the United States. The findings of this study indicate that the concept of students' satisfaction is composed of four factors and that each of these factors is best predicted by a different combination of the independent variables. However, academic performance is a dominant predictor of all four factors. The pattern of the findings is similar for both countries.The policy implications of these findings for university decision making and institutional research are discussed and elaborated.