Integration, Motivation, Strengths and Optimism: Retention Theories Past, Present and Future

Flashcards covering key concepts and theories on undergraduate retention from the lecture notes.

What was the focus of the earliest studies of undergraduate retention in the 1930s?

The failure of students to graduate, referred to as student mortality.

Who developed the landmark student integration model in 1975?

Vincent Tinto.

What does Tinto's student integration model theorize?

Students who socially integrate into the campus community are more likely to graduate.

What significant change in higher education occurred with the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1862?

It created more institutions of higher education and increased access for individuals seeking education.

What was a key characteristic of studies during the 1930s to 1960s regarding undergraduate retention?

The studies began to systematically examine factors influencing student attrition.

How did the GI Bill influence college enrollment after World War II?

It allowed over two million veterans to enroll in higher education, significantly increasing student numbers.

Which model proposed by Spady in 1970 contributed to the study of student dropout?

A sociological model that identified five variables contributing to social integration.

What emerged as a prominent focus of retention studies in the 1990s?

Encouraging retention for underrepresented populations and promoting diversity within campus cultures.

What is one of the most widely applied motivation theories in the retention literature?

Attribution theory.

What does self-efficacy refer to in the context of college student retention?

An individual's beliefs about their ability to perform actions that achieve desired outcomes.

How does optimism influence college student retention?

Optimistic individuals are more likely to invest effort to achieve their goals and adapt to new situations.

What role do academic advisors play in the context of student retention?

They help students identify their attributions for both success and failure to foster responsibility and control.

What is academic self-concept?

A student's perception of their own ability or competence in an academic setting.

What is the goal of attributional retraining?

To help restructure a student’s explanations for academic performance to motivate continued effort.