Third-Year College Retention and Transfer: Effects of Academic Performance, Motivation, and Social Connectedness

Research in Higher Education, 49(7), 647-664

18 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2014

See all articles by Jeff Allen

Jeff Allen

ACT Inc. - Research Division

Steve Robbins

ACT Inc. - Research Division

Alex Casillas

ACT Inc. - Research Division

In‐Sue Oh

Temple University - Department of Human Resource Management

Date Written: January 27, 2007

Abstract

We studied the effects of academic performance, motivation, and social connectedness on third-year retention, transfer, and dropout behavior. To accommodate the three outcome categories and nesting of data within institutions, we fit a hierarchical multinomial logistic regression path model with first-year academic performance as a mediating effect. Our sample included 6,872 students representing 23 four-year universities and colleges. This work expands the current state of persistence research by (1) considering the effects of motivation and social connectedness on college persistence beyond the first year of college, (2) testing whether the effects of motivation and social connectedness on third-year retention and transfer are direct, indirect, or both, and (3) testing whether the effects of academic performance, motivation, and social connectedness are different for retention and transfer. We found that academic performance has large effects on likelihood of retention and transfer; academic self-discipline, pre-college academic performance, and pre-college educational development have indirect effects on retention and transfer; and college commitment and social connectedness have direct effects on retention. Academic self-discipline led to greater first-year academic performance, which suppressed its effect on retention and transfer. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: College persistence, retention, transfer, academic motivation, social connectedness

Suggested Citation

Allen, Jeff and Robbins, Steve and Casillas, Alex and Oh, In-Sue, Third-Year College Retention and Transfer: Effects of Academic Performance, Motivation, and Social Connectedness (January 27, 2007). Research in Higher Education, 49(7), 647-664, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2401066

Jeff Allen

ACT Inc. - Research Division ( email )

500 ACT Drive
Iowa City, IA 52243
United States

Steve Robbins

ACT Inc. - Research Division ( email )

500 ACT Drive
Iowa City, IA 52243
United States

Alex Casillas

ACT Inc. - Research Division ( email )

500 ACT Drive
Iowa City, IA 52243
United States

In-Sue Oh (Contact Author)

Temple University - Department of Human Resource Management ( email )

1801 Liacouras Walk
Alter Hall 343
Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.fox.temple.edu/mcm_people/in-sue-oh/

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