This study examined the factors related to student persistence in online education programs. Using a model of persistence, we conducted five confirmatory factor analytic models to evaluate scales that measured the factors of interest: locus of control, self-efficacy, task value, satisfaction, and persistence. We also conducted and compared two…

Student affairs professionals seek innovative methods to enhance academic achievement for students. A recent study highlighted the need to bridge student development work with course curricula (Kilpatrick, Stant, Downes, & Gaither, 2008). This study also linked the importance of nonacademic cognitive variables, such as locus of control, to…

Locus of control (LOC) is a dimensional construct representing the degree to which individuals perceive reinforcing events in their lives to be the result of their own actions (an "internal" LOC) or fate (an "external" LOC). LOC is meaningfully related to several variables associated with academic achievement. Specifically, high scoring students…

Compared value of several theoretically derived personal (age and gender), educational (class standing and academic performance), and psychological (locus of control and vocational congruence) factors as predictors of undergraduates' (n=337) career maturity. Vocational congruence and academic performance emerged as two most significant predictors.…

Explored differences between high- and low-achieving freshmen women on cognitive and psychological variables. Results support hypotheses that high achievers would have a more internal locus of control, be more cognitively complex, possess a higher academic self-concept, and report more confidence in their ability and effort than would students in…