ABSTRACT

This meta-analytic path analysis presents evidence that first-year academic performance (FYAP), measured by first-year grade point average (FYGPA) plays the major role in determining second-year student retention and that socioeconomic status (SES), measured by parental income, plays a negligible role. Based on large sample data used in a previous study, we conducted additional analyses that included corrections for measurement error and created path models using precollege academic achievement, measured by ACT Composite scores and high school GPA (HSGPA), and SES to predict FYAP and then second-year retention. Precollege academic performances had direct effects on FYAP, and FYAP fully mediated their effects on second-year retention. SES did not contribute to the prediction of FYAP, and it had only a trivial effect on second-year retention. The results of this study point to the criticality of FYAP, and supporting first-year student academic success may serve as the central vehicle for retention efforts.

摘要

这项荟萃分析路径分析提供了证据，表明以第一年平均成绩（FYGPA）衡量的第一年学业成绩（FYAP）在确定第二年学生的保留率中起着主要作用，而通过第一年平均成绩（SES）衡量的社会经济地位（SES）父母的收入，起着微不足道的作用。基于先前研究中使用的大量样本数据，我们进行了其他分析，包括校正测量误差并使用大学前的学术成就创建了路径模型，并通过ACT综合评分和高中GPA（HSGPA）进行了测量，并使用SES预测了FYAP，然后第二年保留。大学前的学业成绩对FYAP有直接影响，而FYAP完全介导了他们对第二年保留率的影响。SES对FYAP的预测没有贡献，对第二年保留率仅具有微不足道的影响。