This study explores the relationship between major changes and time-to-degree at a large, public university in the Southeastern United States. In addition, it analyzes the effects of participation in True Colors workshops (a major decision-making intervention) on major changes and time-to-degree while controlling for competing explanations (i.e., demographic factors, GPA, major). While researchers have often suggested a link between major changes and enrollment beyond four years, they have not often studied this relationship. Moreover, researchers have not studied the effectiveness of True Colors major decision-making workshops on major changes and/or time-to-degree.
Existing research establishes the negative effects of extended enrollment (e.g., shortage of institutional resources and workforce) and examines the interrelationship between student demographics, institutional selectivity, and time-to-degree. Additionally, researchers have found personality to be highly related to choice of major, and interventions by higher education professionals may be beneficial to students major decision-making process.
Using a quasi-experimental research design, the researcher conducted bivariate and multivariate regression analyses to determine the relationship between major changes and time-to-degree, and the effect of participation in True Colors workshops on major changes and time-to-degree. The researcher found a significant positive relationship between major changes and time-to-degree after controlling for competing explanations (n=349; β=0.16; p≤ 0.01). The researcher also determined participation in True Colors workshops had no effect on major changes (n=684) or time-to-degree (n=351), even after controlling for competing explanations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LSU/oai:etd.lsu.edu:etd-04052016-180241 |
| Date | 09 May 2016 |
| Creators | Davis, Rachel K. |
| Contributors | Csaszar, Imre Emeric, Alsandor, Danielle J., Arbuthnot, Keena |
| Publisher | LSU |
| Source Sets | Louisiana State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-04052016-180241/ |
| Rights | restricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached herein a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to LSU or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below and in appropriate University policies, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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