A Systematic Review of Quantitative Methods Using Course-Taking Patterns to Understand Student Success Outcomes

• In Event: Academic Choices and Success

Abstract

The primary goal of this review is to identify and summarize the quantitative research methods used to
describe and quantify college course taking patterns as they relate to student success outcomes. Although
prior studies in higher education have examined course enrollment and college outcomes like graduation,
little research has examined the patterns of all courses taken by individual students and their impact on
these outcomes. The results from this review suggest that many studies in this area rely on statistical
methods and few treat student course taking behaviors as a complex process over time. Identifying
methods from other fields can help retain the important information lost when statistical methods are
applied to course taking patterns and college outcomes research.

Author

• Rachel Straney, University of Central Florida