Article
Assessing the Effectiveness of a College Freshman Seminar Using Propensity Score Adjustments
Research in Higher Education
(2011)
Abstract
Researchers investigated the impact that a first-year college experience course had on students’ first-year grade point averages (GPAs) and retention rates. A sample of 109 first-year students enrolled in the course was compared to a sample of 326 students from the same university who had not taken the course. The goals of the experience course were to reduce attrition, increase grade point averages, and enhance academic skills. Without accounting for selection bias, those who took the course had similar retention rates and lower GPAs than those who did not take the course. After matching on propensity scores, the negative effects of the program on GPA were nullified and those in the program were more likely to enroll for a second year. Although the benefits from the course were weak, the positive impact of the program was more apparent after accounting for individual differences.
Keywords
- first-year seminar,
- college retention,
- academic success,
- propensity scores,
- selection bias
Disciplines
Publication Date
September, 2011
DOI
10.1007/s11162-010-9208-x
Citation Information
M. H. Clark and Nicole L. Cundiff. "Assessing the Effectiveness of a College Freshman Seminar Using Propensity Score Adjustments" Research in Higher Education Vol. 52 Iss. 6 (2011) p. 616 - 639 ISSN: 0361-0365 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/nicole-cundiff/7/