Encouraging college student success: the instructional challenges, response strategies, and study skills of contemporary undergraduates

Journal of Instructional Psychology, March, 2004 by James Kuo, Chris Hagie, Michael T. Miller

Table 1
Respondent Demographic Profile

Variable                           Frequency      Percentage

Gender
  Female                              70             79%
  Male                                18             20

Ethnicity
  Asian/Pacific Islander              11             12
  Native American                      1              1
  Hispanic                            12             14
  Multi-Ethnic                         8              9
  Black, Non-Hispanic                  5              6
  White, Non-Hispanic                 49             55

Age at last birthday
  18-19                                0              0
  20-21                                5              6
  22-25                               18             20
  26-40                               40             45
  41-60                               23             26
  61 or older                          2              2

Self-report overall grade
  point average (or equivalent
  on a 4.0 grading scale)
  0.00-0.99                            0              0
  1.00-1.99                            0              0
  2.00-2.99                            7              8
  3.00-3.99                           81             92

Employment outside of the home
  Yes                                 81             92
  No                                   7              8

Table 2
College Student Study Skills

Study Skill                                   Mean       SD     Range

Study at home                                 5.19       .91     2-6
Study alone                                   5.09      1.05     1-6
Worked on a group project                     3.82      1.35     1-6
  in or out-of-class
Use study resources on a computer             2.82      1.77     1-6
  (software or hardware)
Visit your college library                    2.58      1.43     1-6
Study in a small group                        2.45      1.14     1-5
Meet your instructor(s) out of class          2.43      1.03     1-6
Missed a class due to work                    2.23      1.35     1-6
Completed a course by independent study       1.96      1.25     1-6
Study at the college                          1.93      1.10     1-6
Use study assistance away from                1.90      1.53     1-6
  the college
Make use of a college skill center            1.32       .69     1-5
  (such as a writing or testing center)
Make use of a peer tutor                      1.28       .79     1-5
Make use of other tutors                      1.17       .46     1-4

Table 3
College Student Challenges and Response Strategies

Challenge/Response                          Mean      SD      Range

To what extent is this a personal
  challenge for you?
Balancing academic and                      4.32     1.33      1-6
  personal life
Paying for college                          4.01     1.67      1-5
Academic success                            3.30     1.55      1-6
Thinking about the future                   2.73     1.33      1-6
Making lifestyle choices                    2.45     1.28      1-6
Finding personal direction                  2.43     1.38      1-6
Finding career direction                    2.39     1.33      2-6
Making choices about health issues          2.14     1.33      1-6
Finding spiritual direction                 1.97     1.28      1-4
Finding support for attending               1.97     1.51      1-5
  college from family
Making choices about campus                 1.86     1.38      1-6
  involvement
Finding support for attending               1.69     1.08      1-5
  college from friends
Being accepted on campus                    1.41      .88      1-6
Finding transportation to campus            1.41     1.10      1-6

To cope with these challenges
  how often do you ...
Participate in physical exercise            4.07     1.51      1-6
Consult with a family member                3.78     1.68      1-6
Participate in prayer or meditation         3.61     1.91      1-6
Consult with a current college              3.02     1.02      1-6
  instructor
Use college academic advising               2.61     1.38      1-6
Use college financial aid services          2.57     1.88      1-6
Consult with a former instructor            2.14     1.29      1-6
Decrease credit hour courseload             2.13     1.38      1-6
Consult with friends from high school       1.95     1.37      1-6
Consult with high school teachers           1.72     1.38      1-6
  or administrators
Take a semester off                         1.71     1.21      1-5
Use college counseling services             1.69     1.11      1-6
Use library resources for                   1.54     1.02      1-6
  resolving personal issues