ERIC Number: ED217917
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982
Pages: 268
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Statewide Longitudinal Study: Report on Academic Year 1978-81. Part 5: Final Report.
Sheldon, M. Stephen
The Statewide Longitudinal Study (SLS) of California Community Colleges was conducted between 1978 and 1981 to gather detailed descriptive and demographic data about California community college students and to answer questions about longitudinal research methodology and the needs of special student populations. This fifth and final SLS report begins with a detailed history of the project, then specifies and evaluates the attainment of its goals, outlines its limitations, and summarizes the content of the first four SLS reports. Chapter II discusses the research procedures and the project management plan, includes a demographic description of the 15 participating colleges, explains sampling procedures, and describes the methods used for collecting, managing, and analyzing the data. Chapter III categorizes students according to one of three major college functions, i.e., vocational, transfer, and personal interest, and describes the SLS sample of 6,940 students. Chapters IV, V, and VI each deal with one of these student categories, focusing on prototypical students and their objectives, accomplishments while attending college, reasons for leaving, and current activities. These sections also attempt to answer for each group of students whether attending a community college made a difference in their lives. Finally, Chapter VII provides a summary of the project and its findings, general comments on conducting a survey of this magnitude, and conclusions and recommendations. (HB)
Descriptors: Adult Education, College Transfer Students, Community Colleges, Followup Studies, Lifelong Learning, Longitudinal Studies, Outcomes of Education, Research Methodology, State Surveys, Student Characteristics, Student Educational Objectives, Two Year College Students, Two Year Colleges, Vocational Education
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Numerical/Quantitative Data
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: California Community Colleges, Sacramento. Office of the Chancellor.; Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: Los Angeles Pierce Coll., Woodland Hills, CA.
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A