A survey of 2,520 college students was conducted to test relationships between academic success and college student motivational orientation, conceptualized from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective, while also considering the moderating effects of background characteristics such as gender, socioeconomic status, race/ ethnicity, and…

Linked student college choice and college student persistence literatures. Combined model, using variables from college predisposition and college persistence models, was operationalized into one educational process using High School and Beyond data base. Resulting goodness-of-fit measures indicated good fit of the model, as specified, to the…

Conducted national, 9-year, multi-institutional study of academic persistence. Results from 10,326 college students support Tinto's model of the persistence-withdrawal process and suggests that most important determinants of persistence are students' academic and social integration at the institution. (Author/NB)

Provides insight into first-year undergraduate persistence by using behavioral measures--based on Alexander Astin's theory of involvement--to further understanding of Tinto's theory of student departure. Findings support the use of an integrated model in which student behaviors and perceptions interact to influence the development of academic and…