The United States is experiencing a shortage of STEM workers, with many students leaving the pipeline before attaining a career in STEM. STEM education researchers have identified factors at the high school and college level that contribute to attrition, but earlier life events remain underexplored. In this work-in-progress paper, we examine…

The current unprecedented level of college student debt in the United States at over $1.4 trillion (Federal Reserve, 2017) is of major concern for all who desire to improve higher education, income and social inequality, and the general welfare of society. This study's purpose is both theoretical and empirical: first, to develop and propose the…

Current higher education is characterized by a proliferation of distance education programs and by an increasing inclusion of nontraditional students. In this study we investigated whether and to what extent nontraditional students are particularly at risk for attrition (vs. graduating) from distance education programs. We conducted a secondary…

Establishing college-degree programs for prison inmates is an evidence-based effective instructional strategy in reducing recidivism. Evaluating academic arenas as a resource to improve behavior and levels of functioning within correctional facilities is a necessary component of inmate academic programs. The purpose of this quantitative,…

This article presents three studies that provide an in-depth examination of STEM-related supports and barriers. These studies constructed an instrument to identify male and female perceptions of the barriers and supports for pursuing coursework and/or careers in mathematics and sciences domains; to pilot test and refine that instrument; and then…

Examined how age (age 22 and younger vs. age 28 and older) and enrollment status (part-time vs. full-time) contribute to learning and personal development of traditional and new-majority students at 6 metropolitan institutions. Administered College Student Experiences Questionnaire to 2,485 students. Found that relationship between age, enrollment…

Students studied over a 4-year period showed that growth on ego identity occurred not as freshmen but primarily during the upperclass years. (Author)

Examined patterns of psychosocial development for white and African-American traditional-age undergraduate female college students (n=218). Differences were found by class level in measures of autonomy with seniors scoring higher than other classes and mature interpersonal relationship scores indicating a gradual increase. In a measurement of…

In a visual recognition masking experiment, a target stimulus to be identified is either preceded or followed by a second stimulus called a masking stimulus. The experiments described here provide estimates of both developmental and aging differences in visual backward masking under conditions which maximize interference in the central visual…

A survey of 10,000 United Kingdom college graduates explored satisfaction with the contribution that higher education had made to their general development. The study examined which students were likely to evaluate the contribution favorably, made inferences about institution type and contribution, and explored the relationship with student age.…

Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine has added modules on developmental screening to the second-year medical curriculum, teaching students to specialize their basic interviewing and physical assessment skills by considering the patient's developmental stage as well as age-specific risks, issues, and concerns. (MSE)

Explores the process of personal and social transformation involved in becoming a mature student through the construction of four narratives derived from the biographical accounts of 21 students entering higher education. Demonstrates the gendered nature of conceptions of self in these accounts. Shows that education is a key site for the…

Children and adults listened to stories that contained a goal sentence and an inconsistent outcome. Several encoding and retrieval factors were simultaneously manipulated in the stories. Interaction effects in situations with weak encoding constraint decreased with age. (BC)

Examines research on developmental differences among groups of older preservice teachers and how those groups differ in relation to more traditional students. Student teachers completed questionnaires about their experiences, attitudes, and expectations. Results indicated differences were minimal, but those that did exist were age-related…

With the growing number of dual career families, research has focused on sex-roles and the relationship between career and family values. An assertion is made that the instrumental role (independence, self-reliance) has been associated with support of the family, while care of the home and family requires an expressive role (nurturance).This study…