Higher Education Commons^™

Sensation Seeking And Field Of Study, Kevin Huff

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the possible correlation between the personality trait of sensation seeking and a student's field of study. The literature review shows the strong connection between both how personality can influence our career choice and how sensation seeking can affect multiple aspects of our lives. There were 117 Rowan University students participated and were administered a questionnaire created by Marvin Zuckerman called the Sensation Seeking Scale From-V. Total sensation seeking scores were tested to check for a correlation within students from the fields of liberal arts and science. Although the current study shows no …

International Students' Transition And Adjustment To American Higher Education: Issues And Challenges For Nigerian Students, Linus Chikaodili Ukomadu

Theses and Dissertations

One of the major challenges that confront Nigerian undergraduate students in American higher education is reconciling the demands of a low-context culture (American culture) and a high-context culture (Nigerian culture). The reason is the absence of Nigerian students' familiar culture. This qualitative case study describes the issues and challenges that enhance or impede Nigerian students' transition and adjustment and academic success. The conceptual dimensions explain the nature of psychological factors, person environment-fit conditions, socio-cultural factors, student support services, organizational culture, and process of transition and adjustment. The data were collected from fifteen Nigerian students and six international programs administrators from …

Involvement Patterns: Student Involvement In The Student Community Policing Program At Rowan University, Stephanie Staple

Theses and Dissertations

The use of student development theories such as student involvement and student engagement has become extremely important to administrators and student affairs professionals in higher education; however, few have examined their use in the Department of Public Safety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement patterns of students in the Student Community Policing Program (SCPP). The study also investigated the impact of student involvement in these programs on students' satisfaction with the Rowan University campus. The study was conducted at Rowan University, in Glassboro, New Jersey. The target population for this study was students at Rowan University …

Same-Sex Vs. Co-Ed Classrooms: Do Gender Differences Carry Over Into A Co-Ed College?, Laura O'Malley

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) ascertain the current academic performance of Rowan University freshman (n=117) in their second semester, compare this with academic performance in their senior year of high school, and (b) determine to what extent, if any, their high school classroom gender composition influenced their current performance. Overall, female students who had single-sex instruction (SSI) averaged an 8% improvement in grades, while co-ed taught girls averaged 3% better. Male SSI students averaged 40% worse, while co-ed males averaged 12% worse. For male participants, data showed a moderate positive correlation (r = .38) between amount …

Rowan University's Rowancard: Program Effectiveness And Future Direction, Christine Noon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of Rowan University student's towards the RowanCard program. A secondary purpose was to gain insight from students about future growth of the program. The data were collected by means of a survey using 25 Likert-type items on a 5-point scale. In addition to the survey, two focus groups were conducted with 32 students. Each student was asked six questions pertaining to the program. Data analysis suggests that students overall attitudes towards the RowanCard program are very positive. Student's attitudes about all the current applications available to them with the RowanCard …

"I Wish I Looked Like Her:" The Endless Pursuit For The Ideal Body, Ebony Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the influence that images of models in beauty and fashion magazines had on women's body image satisfaction. Participants were 23 college women. They were randomly assigned to two experimental conditions: ten women were assigned to the fashion magazine group and the remaining thirteen were assigned to the non-fashion magazine group. A fifty-eight item questionnaire was used to assess overall body image satisfaction, appearance concerns, dieting and eating behaviors, and thinness ideals between participants who were exposed to depictions of models in fashion magazines and those who were not. It was hypothesized that …

Rowan University Students' Perceptions Of Campus Safety, Kristen Muscat

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to explore students' perceptions of campus safety, including use of campus safety services and the professionalism of Department of Public Safety officials. The study examined the perceptions of 1,070 students at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ during Spring semester 2011. The study also investigated the impact of demographic factors such as gender, race, semester standing, hometown setting, home distance from Rowan, and crime victimization history on student perceptions. Data on the perceptions were collected by a survey using Likert items on a 1-5 scale, open ended, multiple choice questions, and free response comments. …

Procrastination Behaviors In College Students, Lauren Rosetti

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore a student's procrastination and how it relates to their motivation and self-esteem. Procrastination has been found in previous literature to be a prevalent behavior among college students, about 95% of students engage in procrastination. It was hypothesized that students who actively procrastinated would have a positive relationship with intrinsic motivation and high self-esteem. Three scales were administered to students in psychology classes at Rowan (n=69). Analysis revealed that no significant relationship was found between procrastination and intrinsic motivation or procrastination and self esteem. Implications for future research are discussed.

Involvement Patterns Of High Achieving First-Generation Collegians, Georgia Kouzoukas

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement patterns of eight selected high achieving first-generation students at Rowan University during the Spring 2011 semester. Participants took part in three separate interview sessions to examine past high school experiences, current college involvement, and future aspirations. Interviews were transcribed and data were analyzed through content analysis. The study found that the majority of students were involved in a campus related activity while also achieving academic success. Students were encouraged to be involved by individuals in the environment and they attributed their transition and success in college to specific mentors. The …

Choosing Rowan University: A Study On Contributing External Factors Amongst Native Residential Freshmen, Elizabeth Trenado

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine what the most common contributing external factors amongst native residential freshmen students at Rowan University were when it came to making the decision to attend. The study also investigated if there was a significant relationship between external factors and a particular group of students. Native residential freshmen students were also able to express the importance of factors in their final decision to attend Rowan Unversity. Data collection consisted of a survey with Likert scale items where students were asked to discuss the importance of external factors that helped them decide to …

Academic And Athletic Motivation: Predictors Of Academic Performance Of College Student-Athletes At A Division Iii University, Kathleen Grillo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which academic and athletic motivation can predict the academic performance of student-athletes at a Division III university. An additional purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between academic and athletic motivation in Division III student-athletes, as well as the motivational patterns across academic motivation, student athletic motivation, and career athletic motivation. Student-athletes at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ were surveyed in order to obtain this data during the 2010-2011 academic year. Data were collected by means of a survey using 30 Likert-style items using a 6-point rating scale. …

The Impact Of Internal And External Factors On The Academic Success Of Selected African American Students, Takeyda Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes of 208 selected African American students at Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, in March, 2010. The study investigated the impact of internal and external factors such as school preparation, self determination, financing, mentoring, academic advising, and self efficacy, and the impact that these six identified factors had on their grade point average and their academic achievement at Rowan University. Academic achievement was measured by a self reported grade point average of a 3.0 or higher. Data on the attitudes were collected by means of a survey using a 31 Likert-type …

The Dream Is Alive: A Study Of Selected African American Males' Success At Rowan University, Cory Boone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand why African American males struggle to obtain a four-year college degree. A secondary purpose was to analyze the Black male college students' perceptions of success in college and the roles educational leaders played in their attendance and achievement in college. This study also looked at the behavior of the African American males in college. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Selection criteria included male, African American undergraduate and graduate students attending Rowan University during the 2009/2010 academic year who were student leaders, and doing well in the classroom. Also, selected …

Learning Communities Versus Traditional Courses: Which Promotes The Highest Levels Of Student Persistence, Achievement, And Integration?, Sonya Russ

Theses and Dissertations

Past research in the area of college retention shows that social and academic integration are important elements in ensuring high retention rates. Many past studies show that learning communities are beneficial in helping raise retention rates as learning communities effectively increase the rates of social and academic integration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether underprepared students in learning community courses reported higher levels of achievement, persistence, and social and academic integration than underprepared non-learning community students when controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, student status, hours worked per week off campus, and time of registration. The focus of …

Retention And Graduation Of Hispanics In American Community Colleges, Claudia M. Griffin

Theses and Dissertations

The Hispanic population in the United States is the fastest growing ethnic group. It is also one of the least-educated and poorest groups and one of the least researched nationally. The purpose of the study was to identify the variables that affect the persistence of Hispanic college students who begin their postsecondary educations at community colleges. The study used data from the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Persistence was defined as either graduating from or being enrolled in any Title IV postsecondary institution three years after the beginning of the study. Community …

Influences On The Commitment To And Focus Of Community Engagement At Colleges And Universities: A Multiple-Case Study, Melissa Mcilroy Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities have embraced the importance of community engagement, not only as a tool for student development but, also, as a responsibility of the institution to address societal needs and problems. Research is lacking, however, on how institutions with varying missions, histories and cultures perceive their role in the community, what motivates an institution's commitment to community engagement and what influences the focus of those initiatives. The qualitative study investigates the external and internal influences that may impact an institution's commitment to community engagement, particularly why and how a college or university responds to community needs. The comparative study …

The Decision To Stay: A Multiple-Case Study Exploring College Choice And Persistence Factors Of Second-Year Students At Religiously-Affiliated Institutions Associated With The Churches Of Christ, Patti Jo White

Theses and Dissertations

Factors that influenced the college choice and persistence of twenty-eight undergraduate, second-year students at religiously-affiliated institutions associated with the churches of Christ were examined using a cross-case comparative qualitative analysis. Student pre-college characteristics and campus environment factors were also investigated regarding their influence on the students' decisions to choose a college and to remain for the second year at their respective initial institutions. Four religiously-affiliated institutions associated with the churches of Christ, categorized in four different Carnegie basic classifications, were selected as the sites for the case studies to achieve maximum requisite variety across the cases. These classifications included one …

Factors Influencing The Academic Success Of Second Generation Immigrant College Students, Natalya V. Boureiko

Theses and Dissertations

The changing demographic situation in the U.S. creates paramount social problems as the population of immigrants grows. Because the higher education is the most effective tool for incorporating the immigrant populations into the society, the purpose of the proposed study was to determine what students' characteristics, parents' characteristics, as well as students' actions affect the academic attainment versus grade point average (GPA) of immigrant population in college. The study was based on longitudinal datasets NPSAS 2000, NPSAS 2004, and NPSAS 2008. There were three cross-sectional samples and statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and stepwise regression. The findings of the study …

She's Leaving Home: The Effect Of College Experiences On Homeschooled Students, Henry Thomas Smiley

Theses and Dissertations

Most existing homeschool research focuses on one of two concerns: the efficacy of home education and the socialization of the homeschooled student. The purpose of this study was to examine how the beliefs, values, and worldviews of homeschooled students were affected by their experiences at the post-secondary level, specifically in the multicultural environment of public four-year colleges and universities. Data were collected through interviews with eleven participants: six homeschooling parents and five homeschooled students. Homeschooled students who formed close relationships with students unlike themselves and who were involved in leadership roles in their respective post-secondary institutions seemingly assimilated different worldviews …

Self-Directedness In Foreign Language Learners: A Phenomenological Study Of College Students And Foreign Language Instructors, Sueid Fauaze Moreira

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of the qualitative research was to investigate if students experience self-directedness when taking foreign language classes at the college level. The research was based on learners' perspectives of the phenomenon both verifying the use of self-directedness among learners and understanding the paradigms of self-direction. Guided by scholarly research, the construct elements for the research were a) Characteristics of Instruction, b) Characteristic of Learner, and c) Self-Directedness. Four groups of students were identified in the study. Individual students' interview responses revealed that their perceived needs varied according to their degree seeking and career goals. Interview data combined with scores …

Effect Of College Health Course Enrollment On Interest, Knowledge And Behavior, Britney Finley

Theses and Dissertations

Health of college students is a national public health concern, however general health courses which cover topics of concern such as responsible sexual behaviors, alcoholism, drug abuse, tobacco use, nutrition, weight management, cardiovascular health, and mental health issues are rarely a required course for college students. University health education faculty, health educators who teach students the appropriate practices of health education, must do what they are trained to do: teach college students healthy lifestyle behaviors and effective ways of changing negative behaviors. This quasi-experimental study investigates the extent to which the undergraduate general health courses are impacting the perceived knowledge, …

In Search Of Critical Thinking: A Case Study Of A Midwestern University's Center For Teaching Excellence, Lourene Pike Thaxton

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicated that students often graduate from colleges and universities without encountering critical thinking skills in undergraduate coursework. The first national report raising concerns over the declining quality of education stemmed from the National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983), and findings based on disappointing test scores were essentially repeated with the Spellings Report (2006) twenty years later. Although numerous scholars, experts, and politicians voiced concerns regarding what were perceived to be deficient methods of instruction in higher education, missing were the voices of professors who devised the curriculum and delivered student instruction. The intention of this study was to …

A Study Of The Impact Of Late Night Programming On Student Involvement At Rowan University, Brian Milsted

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate student attitudes toward Rowan After Hours (RAH) and to determine the program's impact on student involvement. There were 365 respondents during the Spring 2010 semester. All respondents had attended at least one night of Rowan After Hours. A survey was used to gather attitudes toward various aspects of the campus late night program: Operations, Food Service, Activities, Professional Staff, and the Sense of Community. Students were given an opportunity to list what they like most and least about the program. Established research indicates a strong connection between students who socialize and higher …

Leadership And The First-Year Experience: A Study Of Outcomes From Student Involvement And The Flip Program, Gavin Farber

Theses and Dissertations

This study looks at the impact from the Freshmen Leadership Interest Program (FLIP) that took place in August 2006. A group of freshmen attended a three day retreat before the start of their freshmen year when they were introduced to the different types of leadership opportunities on the campus of Rowan University. Throughout the last four years the participants in the program have been involved in a variety of different clubs and organizations serving in many leadership positions. Fifty-three former participants were emailed a survey about their experience in FLIP and asked to complete the three page instrument. Along with …

Making A Major Decision: Undeclared Student Retention And The Process Of Choosing An Academic Major At Rowan University, Rachael Scharen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the rationale of college major selection for undeclared students. The study focused on determining if undeclared students were influenced by outside resources and factors to aid in their decision to declare a particular major. Approximately 300 freshmen undecided students and five sophomore undecided students at Rowan University in January through March of 2010 participated in this study. Data on the influences and factors were collected through a survey using 31 Likert scale items and four open ended questions as well as using interviews and asking a series of questions about …

Life Satisfaction: A Study Of Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Stacy Behlau

Theses and Dissertations

The stresses of life that college students face can be overwhelming at times and may affect the student's satisfaction with life. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors in student's lives that diminish their life satisfaction, and to examine which group of students had a lower life satisfaction in each area. Participants in this study were all Rowan University undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Psychology courses. Within the study, there were 57 total participants, 30 of which were undergraduate students and 27 graduate students. In addition, 47 participants were females while only 10 were males. Participants …

Educationally Underprepared Students' Perception Of Their Experience In A Pre-Freshman Bridge Program, Mary Schell

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of underprepared students regarding their participation in a pre-freshman bridge program. Data were collected through a series of interviews conducted over the course of three months. Interviews focused on students' perceptions of their classroom and out-of-classroom experiences, as well as their overall reflections on their participation in the program. Analysis of the interviews showed that students perceived that their participation in a pre-freshman summer bridge program readied them for the academic rigors of college and developed in them the skills to be successful first year students. Students also reported that …

Incorporación De La Investigación Pedagógica A La Práctica Docente En La Universidad Iberoamericana, Carmen Caraballo

Theses and Dissertations

Respondiendo al movimiento que rescata la actividad investigativa como función esencial de toda universidad, en la Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) se dio un proceso de reforma que buscaba fortalecer la investigación. En virtud de esta reforma, los docentes debían contribuir con la nueva misión, involucrándose en actividades de investigación. Sin embargo esto no ocurría, aun ante evidencias de situaciones del aula que podrían estar siendo abordadas a través de la investigación pedagógica.

La investigación pedagógica, en su vertiente de investigación-acción, permite a los docentes mejorar la calidad de su docencia, y en ese sentido, este estudio se propuso determinar los beneficios …

Student Affairs Administrator And Faculty Perceptions Of Distance Education As Preparation For Employment In Student Affairs, Mary Christina Charlton

Theses and Dissertations

A sequential, mixed-method study was conducted to investigate student affairs administrators and faculty perceptions of distance education as preparation for employment in student affairs. An online survey was administered to both administrators (N = 754) and faculty (N = 69) in order to collect data for quantitative analysis. Variables included participant rating of importance and acquisition of competencies, professional experience, experience with distance education, and philosophical orientation. A one-way ANOVA was used to examine relationships between differing variables, while a MANOVA was used to examine relationships between the two participant groups and corresponding variables. Results from quantitative data informed the …

The Impact Of Student Employment On Student Involvement, Stefanie Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of student employment on student involvement. The study also assessed the difference in levels of involvement between those students who worked on-campus verse off-campus and assessed the impact of demographic factors on levels of student engagement. The subjects in this study were 223 students at Rowan University during the 2008-2009 academic year. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and information from the 2008 fall semester, such as GPA and number of credits taken. The survey also provided information on participation in activities at Rowan University and data concerning …