Relationship Between Self-Efficacy, Motivation, and Choosing College Moderated by Income in a Diverse Sample

• In Event: Speaking Up and Reaching Out: Personal and Social Factors Related to Student Outcomes

Abstract

Attendance and graduation from postsecondary education institutions is associated with higher rates of income and employment. Prior research has shown that access to higher education is impacted by contextual variables such as gender, ethnicity, and family income, as well as an individual’s motivation and belief in one’s own abilities to achieve success. Very little work has examined the impact on college attendance of these contextual and self-efficacy/motivation variables together. Thus, the current study investigated the impact of self-efficacy and motivation above and beyond the contextual variables, and on whether family income moderated the relationship of self-efficacy or motivation on postsecondary attendance. Results demonstrated self-efficacy/motivation impacted attendance beyond income, ethnicity, and gender, and income moderated the self-efficacy effect but not motivation.

Authors

• Maria E. Hernandez Finch, Ball State University

• William Holmes Finch, Ball State University

• Melissa Singh, Ball State University