ERIC EdInfo: Identifying Indicators of Persistence and Academic Success

Identifying Indicators of Persistence and Academic Success

EdInfo 2002-04
May 2002
ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges

This study examined enrollment data and student responses to the College Student Inventory (CSI), a standardized, nationally normed inventory of student motivation. The sample, drawn from incoming freshmen in the first semester of college between the years of 1996 to 1999, consisted of a total of 1,368 students at eight community colleges across the nation. The purpose of this study was to determine which, if any, of the 19 scales of the CSI distinguish persistence and academic success in students attending community colleges.

The College Student Inventory (CSI)

Scales of the CSI are designed to identify those precollege experiences, dispositions, and attributes that may subsequently influence a student’s ability to succeed and persist in college. The 19 CSI scales survey student attitudes relative to the following five general categories: (1) academic motivation; (2) social motivation; (3) general coping skills;(4) receptivity to support services;and (5) initial impression.

Findings

This investigation revealed that the CSI distinguishes differences in student persistence and academic success of community college students on two scales within the general category, "Receptivity to Support Services":

Academic Assistance Scale

Students who did not persist and students who were unsuccessful academically (GPA < 2.0) were significantly more likely to indicate an interest in receiving assistance in all six areas of the "Academic Assistance" scale: (1) mathematics assistance; (2) test taking skills assistance; (3) study habits assistance; (4) writing skills assistance; (5) tutoring; and (6) reading skills assistance.

Career Counseling Assistance Scale

Students who were considered academically successful (GPA >2.0) were significantly more likely to indicate an interest in receiving career counseling in two areas of the "Career Counseling Assistance" scale: (1) help with selecting a program of courses to get a good job upon graduation; and (2) job selection assistance.

This information was reported in ED457211, "Usefulness of the College Student Inventory as a Needs Assessment Tool in Community Colleges" by Vicki Basham and Fred C. Lunenburg. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.

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