Though much research is available on student persistence and attrition, few studies asked students to describe their experiences and motivational factors that influenced them to stay enrolled. This study at Ball State University helped researchers to understand these factors so that they could better work with matriculating freshmen and reduce freshmen drop-out. Qualitative research methodology resulted in data being gathered via personal interviews with students who were identified as matriculating freshmen living in the university residence halls during fall and spring of the 2004-2005 academic year. A semi-structured interview guide was created and modified. Data were collected in March, April, and May of 2005. The researcher analyzed the data by identifying thematic connections among the data according to guidelines presented by Seidman (1998).The researcher concluded that the goal of a powerful job and the recognition by parents and families motivated students to attend college and graduate. Students believed their motivations were internal, but based on their responses, the motivations were external to them. A better career and parental recognition were forms of external motivations. The factors at Ball State University that encouraged students to stay enrolled varied from individual involvement to characteristics of the institution. Programs like Orientation and Freshman Connections did not seem to have much of an impact on students' adjustment. / Department of Educational Leadership
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/187926 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Akins, Cassie L. |
| Contributors | Wessel, Roger D |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | viii, 120 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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