The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an extended orientation program on student out-of-classroom involvement as it relates to academic performance and retention. The results of the experimental group were compared with two control groups to determine the effects of the extended orientation program. / The study is based on the theoretical work of Chickering's development vectors and Astin's involvement theory. The synthesis of Chickering's and Astin's work presents the question of whether a significant positive relationship exists between involvement and development. The College Student Experiences Questionnaire (CSEQ), developed by C. Robert Pace, was used to measure out-of-classroom involvement. The CSEQ was modified to assess the level of out-of-classroom involvement for high school students, titled Freshmen Student Survey (FSS). / All three cohorts were given the FSS during Fall 1992. Then the experimental group began the First Year Experience, an extended orientation course. Control 1 received traditional three-day orientation program plus a leadership course during Fall semester. Control 2 received just the three-day orientation program. / The four major areas of research for this study addressed: academic performance as measured by grade point average; knowledge and utilization of student services and activities; self-reported "estimate of gains" in selected educational experiences; and retention through the end of the freshmen year. / Analysis of the data led to the following conclusions: the three cohorts were substantially homogeneous; the experimental group recorded higher grade point averages after two semesters; the three cohorts differed little in the ten effort activity scores; and retention rates were high for all three cohorts. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-01, Section: A, page: 0055. / Major Professor: John S. Waggaman. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--The Florida State University, 1993.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77083 |
| Contributors | Yarbrough, Ernest Boyd., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 198 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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