TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing the Effectiveness of a College Freshman Seminar Using Propensity Score Adjustments
AU - Clark, M. H.
AU - Cundiff, Nicole L.
N1 - Researchers investigated the impact that a first-year college experience course had on students' first-year grade point averages (GPAs) and retention rates. A sample of 109 first-year students enrolled in the course was compared to a sample of 326 students from the same university who had not taken the course.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Researchers investigated the impact that a first-year college experience course had on students' first-year grade point averages (GPAs) and retention rates. A sample of 109 first-year students enrolled in the course was compared to a sample of 326 students from the same university who had not taken the course. The goals of the experience course were to reduce attrition, increase grade point averages, and enhance academic skills. Without accounting for selection bias, those who took the course had similar retention rates and lower GPAs than those who did not take the course. After matching on propensity scores, the negative effects of the program on GPA were nullified and those in the program were more likely to enroll for a second year. Although the benefits from the course were weak, the positive impact of the program was more apparent after accounting for individual differences.
AB - Researchers investigated the impact that a first-year college experience course had on students' first-year grade point averages (GPAs) and retention rates. A sample of 109 first-year students enrolled in the course was compared to a sample of 326 students from the same university who had not taken the course. The goals of the experience course were to reduce attrition, increase grade point averages, and enhance academic skills. Without accounting for selection bias, those who took the course had similar retention rates and lower GPAs than those who did not take the course. After matching on propensity scores, the negative effects of the program on GPA were nullified and those in the program were more likely to enroll for a second year. Although the benefits from the course were weak, the positive impact of the program was more apparent after accounting for individual differences.
KW - Academic success
KW - College retention
KW - First-year seminar
KW - Propensity scores
KW - Selection bias
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960584014&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-010-9208-x
U2 - 10.1007/s11162-010-9208-x
DO - 10.1007/s11162-010-9208-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79960584014
SN - 0361-0365
VL - 52
SP - 616
EP - 639
JO - Research in Higher Education
JF - Research in Higher Education
IS - 6
ER -