The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify demographic variables and community college experiences that influence the academic and social adjustment process of adult vertical transfer students at the university. Data collected on adult vertical transfer student demographic information and community college experiences were examined in…

There are a limited number of individuals who possess the skills to fulfill the workforce demand in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in the United States. Therefore, community colleges and 4-year institutions must be able to identify academic and social factors that impact students' participation in the areas of STEM. These…

This regression study examined the set of graduate characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity), as well as Grade Point Average Motivation, and environmental factors (program of study, use of career services, internship completion, Grade Point Average) that predicted time to in-field employment among associate degree graduates. Graduates ranging from…

Over 72,000 student-athletes compete annually in athletic programs at the community college level. However, research addressing the effect of athletic participation on the psychological well-being of the community college student-athlete is sparse. This study represents an attempt to address this gap by examining the relationship among perceived…

Student retention has been a significant issue in higher education for several decades. "Two-year colleges" tend to have lower retention rates than four-year colleges (Seidman, 2005, ). Low retention is a problem in both two-year for-profit and nonprofit colleges. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the predictors of retention…

This study investigated the effects the demographic variables age, gender, and ethnicity and their interactions had on academic performance in online courses delivered by public two-year colleges in Kentucky. The study controlled for previous academic performance measured by cumulative grade point average (GPA). The study used a random sample (N =…

This dissertation is a study of factors that contribute to dropout from distance learning classes in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). It is divided into five chapters. Chapter One gives a history of distance learning through in KCTCS. It includes the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the…

This is a report of an extensive follow-up study of Lake Land College transfer students at Eastern Illinois University. An analysis of their grade point average (GPA) term by term reveals a drop in GPA the first term after transfer and subsequent recovery. This phenomenon, known as "transfer shock," is compared with results obtained in…

This article demonstrates, through a case study, the use of pre-existing subgroups as moderator variables to increase the predictive effectiveness of educational research. Use of moderator variables in this study increased the amount of explained variance by 460 percent. (JDS)

Failure to identify and account for the effect of moderator variables is an important reason for the low explanatory power of much educational research. Pre-existing subgroups such as sex, ethnicity, and curriculum offer an easily identifiable and theoretically meaningful source of moderator variables. Tests for intercept and slope differences in…

A need existed to develop a graphic procedure to predict student success in 2-year engineering technology programs, based on ACT scores and high school grades. The study stemmed from the need to help students identify their chances of success, to help students clarify their goals, and to indicate needed institutional responses. Regression analysis…

This document discusses how community colleges often under-utilize collected student data. For example, community colleges use student pre-college assessment data to place students in specific courses. The paper suggests that student data can also be used to predict academic success (a grade of A, B, or C) in community college courses. Some of the…

Concerns over equity, access, and fairness of placement testing have resulted in state regulations requiring validity evidence of the placement test with respect to a criterion variable, such as final course grades. A study was conducted to assess the validity of placement tests used to place students in pre-collegiate and college-level English…

A study was conducted at Scottsdale and Paradise Valley community colleges to assess the importance of math for the study of economic principles and the extent to which a student's math background determines performance in micro- and macro-economic courses. Students (N=156) from six economic principles classes were surveyed regarding their high…

In 1990, a study was conducted at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TCCC) to determine if there was a significant difference in the personal characteristics of applicants for full-time study who actually attended and those who did not attend the college. In addition, the study sought to identify those variables that accounted for the largest…