Students’ Grade Expectations and Work Ethic in College: Evidence of the Entitlement Generation

• In Event: Ethics, Mentoring, and Corporate Social Responsibility

Abstract

This study uses 160 participants from lower level accounting courses at a university in the Northeastern region of the United States. The data collected on both male and female students is analyzed and then compared to a 20 year old study. These comparisons support both gender and generational differences. The findings suggest that female students are more motivated by hard work and personal goal setting while male students are more motivated in situations in which competition with others is involved. The current data suggests that students today expect higher grades than students did 20 years ago. Finally, the past data suggests that students 20 years ago were more satisfied by hard-work than students of the current generation.

Authors

• Alexandra C. Landry, Roger Williams University

• Richard A Bernardi, Roger Williams University

• Susan M. Bosco, Roger Williams University