What's Cost Got to Do With It? Cost Trajectories of Undergraduate Computer Science Students

• In Event: Promoting Postsecondary Engagement, Persistence, and Participation

Abstract

An estimated 15-30% of students enrolled in an introductory college course either drop out of the course or fail it (Guzdial & Soloway, 2002); other reports cite even higher dropout and failure rates (Wiedenbeck, 2005). In particular, it is important to mitigate student attrition in computer science in our incredibly digital world. The present study investigated semester-long trajectories of four different cost perceptions (effort, opportunity, psychological, and emotional) and their relations to achievement and major intentions using a sample of 1107 undergraduate computer science students. Students’ cost perceptions were found to increase, particularly at the beginning of the semester. While effort and emotional cost predicted final grades and major intentions, opportunity cost only predicted final grades.

Authors

• Ella Christiaans, McGill University

• Harshadaa Deshpande

• Kira Rudakova

• So Yeon Lee, McGill University

• Kristy A. Robinson, McGill University