Measuring Self-Efficacy Among Diverse Urban Community College Students: Does Nationality Matter?

• In Event: 61.044 - College Student Development and Learning Across Institutional Types

Abstract

Through utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques, this study examined the psychosocial mechanism of how self-efficacy influences degree aspiration with the focus of students enrolled in an urban diverse community college. Results showed that self-efficacy was influenced by demographic characteristics, social capital, and high school experiences. The self-efficacy constructs impacted degree aspiration both directly and indirectly. In addition, through a multi-group analysis, the researchers revealed significant difference between domestic and international student groups regarding the model results. Findings of this research contributed to the literature by emphasizing the community college context, the different mechanism for international students, and the general self-efficacy concept.

Authors

• Yu Chen, Iowa State University

• Soko S. Starobin, Iowa State University