The Effects of College Experiences on Gains in Cognitive Skills Among First-Generation Students

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 66
  In Roundtable Session: Learning and Development in Relation to (Non)Cognitive Skill Development

Abstract

This study used a dataset consisting of the 2006 The Freshman Survey (TFS) and the 2010 College Senior Survey (CSS). These surveys were administered as part of the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) located at the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at UCLA. These surveys create a nationwide dataset consists of colleges and universities in the United States. This study sought to improve our understanding about how select college experiences affect cognitive skills gains among first-generation students. The results from this study identified unique patterns related to how select college experiences affect cognitive skills gains among first-generation students. A comparative analysis among non-first-generation students showed different patterns, which highlights the uniqueness of these educational patterns among these two populations.

Authors

• Michael F. Iorio, Loma Linda University

• Young K. Kim, Azusa Pacific University