College Social Capital Predicts Motivational Characteristics of First-Year College Students

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: College Student Learning and Development

Abstract

Completing a college degree is an important benchmark. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (https://nces.ed.gov) 40.8% of 2006 first-time freshman students at four-year postsecondary institutions in the United States did not complete their degrees in six years or less; and disparities based on demographic characteristics exist in the national graduation rates. The purpose of the present correlational study was to examine with college students whether motivational characteristics related to college academic success are associated with social capital constructs of peer support, faculty support, university community and cultural value. The results indicate that these dimensions of social capital are associated with important motivational constructs. Implications for theory and future research will be provided and discussed at the poster presentation.

Authors

• Scott C. Marley, Arizona State University - Tempe

• M Jeanne Wilcox, Arizona State University

• Natalie Nailor, Arizona State University

• Wendy Miedel Barnard, Arizona State University