Peer Networks and Achievement in Learning Communities in Higher Education

• In Event: 34.051 - Collegiate Environments and Student Learning

Abstract

In learning communities students share knowledge which is assumed to contribute to peer network formation and to academic achievement. This research investigated how LCs contribute to peer relationship formation and to academic achievement during the first year. Social network data were collected at two time points from 95 university students in eight learning communities. The results showed that students are more likely to ask friends for academic support and vice versa. The higher a student achieves, the more often the student is selected as an academic helper or as a friend and the more often this higher achieving student initiate academic help and friendship relationships. We did not find evidence that these peer relationships influence academic achievement.

Authors

• Jasperina Brouwer, University of Groningen

• Andreas Flache

• Ellen Jansen

• Adriaan Hofman

• Christian Steglich