Abstract:
To investigate factors relating to academic and social integration as predictors of intention to persist for graduate students, College of Agriculture Master’s students in U.S. campus and online degree programs were surveyed. Data were gathered using an online questionnaire. In addition to demographics, the questionnaire included three scales, academic integration, social integration and intention to persist. Academic integration was measured with the subscales of advisor relationship and academic interaction. Social integration was measured with the subscales of peer group support, faculty interactions and involvement in social interactions. The subscales for each scale were combined to create academic integration, social integration and socialization scores. Mean scores were formulated from descriptive statistics. Polychoric correlation was used to identify relationships followed by regression analysis with academic and social integration as predictor variables and intention to persist as the criteria variable. A significant positive relationship between academic integration and social integration was identified. A significant positive relationship was also identified between academic integration and social integration and intention to persist. Demographic variables were examined in relationship to the scales. Overall this study indicates that socialization as explained through academic and social integration is an important factor of persistence in College of Agriculture Masters Students.
 8 Hammond NACTA Journal Mar14.pdf | [ ] | 292 kB |
