The process by which the student formulates conceptions of the university and the impact of this process on the decision to persist at the university were studied with first-time Mexican American college freshmen. A multiple-subject research design--a modified analytic induction technique--was employed in order to develop a descriptive model. Phase one of the research involved interviewing persisters and nonpersisters, using an unstructured and open-ended format. The objective of the interview was to determine details of everyday social interaction through which the student is able to construct and sustain a reality of the university. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed onto a word processor, and content coded. In phase two of the research, verification and expansion of existing patterns of behavior were sought. The interview topics then become more individualized and were covered in a more structured way. The outcome of these steps was a conceptual framework for understanding persistence among Mexican-American freshmen. Examples of data that were generated by this approach are presented. Topics of the examples include the following: the student's overall environment, the student's activities within this setting, personal interactions, problems in communication, and problem-solving strategies. (SW)