Envisioning Student Success: The Role of Student Identity Centrality

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 43
  In Roundtable Session: Students' Identities on Campus

Abstract

This paper examines the recently developed construct of student identity centrality, which describes how important being a student is to a person’s sense of self. The present study expands upon initial work in several ways. First, it shows that this construct is measured well via a three-item scale. Second, it illustrates that student identity centrality is unrelated to student demographics and precollege achievement, so its use as a predictor of student success does not perpetuate long-standing inequalities. Third, even when controlling for demographics, prior academic achievement, and other psychological constructs, it finds that student identity is positively and significantly associated with college credits earned, STEM GPA, academic self-confidence, college sense of belonging, and subjective well-being.

Authors

• Joshua M. Holmes, University of Iowa

• Nicholas A. Bowman, University of Iowa

• Mary C. Murphy, Indiana University

• Evelyn Carter, University of California - Los Angeles