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Dolan_final_dissertation_May_2019.pdf (1.7 MB)

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Synthesizing Undergraduate College Student Persistence: A Meta-analytic Structural Equation Model

Dolan, Amanda Avery
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1554756614807579

Abstract Details

2019, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration.
Institutions have invested considerably in resources and staff to increase student success and persistence. However, retention rates have remained fairly steady over time. The purpose of this study was to synthesize undergraduate student persistence models into a singular parsimonious model using meta-analytic structural equation modeling to test the accuracy of the model across diverse studies. The analysis was successful in supporting many aspects of the major theoretical models proposed about college student persistence from a wide breadth of research on this subject. It was concluded that academic integration, social integration, institutional commitment, and organizational factors of the college/university all significantly contribute to student persistence. Student background characteristics and student external factors were not significantly related to college student persistence. The conclusions of this analysis suggest that all types of institutions invest in programs and services related to academic and social integration, institutional commitment, and organizational factors of the university environment. Recent statistical methods published by Cheung in 2015 made it possible to apply structural equation modeling techniques to meta-analytic research, which allowed for a more robust and complex analysis. Therefore, the contribution of this work is notable because it applies rigorous statistical methods and analysis to substantiate and/or question common theoretical constructs related to college student persistence over a period of 40 years.
Jian Li (Committee Chair)
Jason Schenker (Committee Member)
Susan Stocker (Committee Member)
Cynthia Osborn (Other)
172 p.
Education; Educational Evaluation; Higher Education; Statistics
undergraduate students; college retention; college persistence; school holding power; academic integration; social integration; institutional commitment; Tinto; organizational factors; student external factors; student background characteristics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dolan, A. A. (2019). Synthesizing Undergraduate College Student Persistence: A Meta-analytic Structural Equation Model [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1554756614807579

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dolan, Amanda. Synthesizing Undergraduate College Student Persistence: A Meta-analytic Structural Equation Model . 2019. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1554756614807579.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dolan, Amanda. "Synthesizing Undergraduate College Student Persistence: A Meta-analytic Structural Equation Model ." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1554756614807579

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1554756614807579
506
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.