Examining First-Generation College Students' Emotions and Values in Response to Transformative Experience

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: Students' Emotions and Learning

Abstract

Transformative Experience (TE) refers to when a student applies course content to an everyday experience (Pugh, 2011) and has shown positive effects on emotions (Heddy & Sinatra, 2013). What has yet to be explored is how TE may benefit students of differing status. The current study specifically addresses a gap in research concerning the role of transformative experience and its effects on first-generation college students’ emotions and task values. Findings of this study indicate that first-generation college students benefit from engaging in TE, but those benefits may not be as impactful as it is for continuing ed students. Negative emotions were experienced at a higher level for first-generation college students regardless of engagement in TE, which has important educational implications.

Authors

• Jacqueline Goldman, University of Oklahoma

• Benjamin C. Heddy, University of Oklahoma

• Kevin J. Pugh, University of Northern Colorado

• Leah Wilson, University of Northern Colorado

• Jenel Cavazos, University of Oklahoma