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ERIC Number: EJ1070332
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1066-8926
EISSN: N/A
Program of Study and Social Integration
Mertes, Scott J.
Community College Journal of Research and Practice, v39 n12 p1170-1181 2015
While Tinto's (1975, 1987, 1993) Interactionalist Model has reached near paradigmatic status, and introduced the construct of social integration, the research has been inconsistent when applied to community college student retention. This has led Maxwell (2000) and Deil-Amen (2011) to suggest that a different construct of social integration exists in community colleges. This construct focuses less on purely social activities and more on both peer groups centered on academically related activities, along with interactions with faculty and students inside the classroom. While previous research found that these two constructs of social integration were highly related (Mertes, 2015), differences were found when investigating gender. But the previous research did not consider the impact of program of study and potential interactions with other variables including gender, race, and age. The current study sought to investigate the impact of program of study (i.e., occupational vs. transfer) on both constructs, as well as the impact of the interaction of program of study and additional variables including gender, race, and age. After conducting the analysis, it was found that while overall program of study did not significantly impact either construct of social integration, a significant gender difference was found on the alternative construct of social integration as suggested by Maxwell and Deil-Amen. Future research strategies including utilizing campus ecology theory are then discussed.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Two Year Colleges; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A