ERIC Number: EJ1076344
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Nov
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1521-0251
EISSN: N/A
Positive Youth Development and Undergraduate Student Retention
Demetriou, Cynthia; Powell, Candice
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, v16 n3 p419-444 Nov 2014
The primary theoretical tradition in the study of college retention has been sociological. A review and synthesis of common themes of development among traditional-age, college students suggests that a developmental perspective on the retention of youth in college may have more to offer than the dominant sociological paradigm. This article argues that a key question in examining undergraduate retention should be are colleges and universities meeting the developmental needs of the youth enrolled in their institutions. The Positive Youth Development (PYD) perspective is proposed as a more beneficial paradigm than current models used to examine college student retention. Opportunities and resources to support features of positive developmental settings in the college context are explored, as are potential limitations and directions for future research. The conclusion discusses the overall benefits of using a developmental and strengths-based perspective to study undergraduate retention.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Academic Persistence, Student Development, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, Developmental Studies Programs, Models, Personality Theories, Adolescent Development, Educational Opportunities, Educational Resources, Measurement Techniques, Developmental Psychology
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A