Using Instrumental Variables to Account for Selection Effects in Research on First-Year Programs.

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Title: Using Instrumental Variables to Account for Selection Effects in Research on First-Year Programs.
Authors: Pike, Gary1 pikeg@iupui.edu, Hansen, Michele1, Lin, Ching-Hui2
Source: Research in Higher Education. Mar2011, Vol. 52 Issue 2, p194-214. 21p. 3 Charts.
Subject Terms: *College freshmen, *Learning communities, *Student participation, *Self-efficacy in students, Instrumental variables (Statistics)
Abstract: The widespread popularity of programs for first-year students is due, in large part, to studies showing that participation in first-year programs is significantly related to students' academic success. Because students choose to participate in first-year programs, self-selection effects prevent researchers from making causal claims about the outcomes of those programs. The present research examined the effects on first-semester grades of students participating in themed learning communities at a research university in the Midwest. Results indicated that membership in themed learning communities was positively associated with higher grade point averages, even after controlling for entering ability, application date, gender, and first-generation/low-income status. However, when instrumental variables were introduced to account for self-selection, the effects of themed learning communities on grades were not statistically significant. The results have implications for campus leaders and assessment practitioners who are working to develop methods for understanding the effects of programs designed to enhance the undergraduate educational experiences on their campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Research in Higher Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Using Instrumental Variables to Account for Selection Effects in Research on First-Year Programs.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pike%2C+Gary%22">Pike, Gary</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> pikeg@iupui.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hansen%2C+Michele%22">Hansen, Michele</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Ching-Hui%22">Lin, Ching-Hui</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Research+in+Higher+Education%22">Research in Higher Education</searchLink>. Mar2011, Vol. 52 Issue 2, p194-214. 21p. 3 Charts.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+freshmen%22">College freshmen</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+communities%22">Learning communities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+participation%22">Student participation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-efficacy+in+students%22">Self-efficacy in students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instrumental+variables+%28Statistics%29%22">Instrumental variables (Statistics)</searchLink>
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  Data: The widespread popularity of programs for first-year students is due, in large part, to studies showing that participation in first-year programs is significantly related to students' academic success. Because students choose to participate in first-year programs, self-selection effects prevent researchers from making causal claims about the outcomes of those programs. The present research examined the effects on first-semester grades of students participating in themed learning communities at a research university in the Midwest. Results indicated that membership in themed learning communities was positively associated with higher grade point averages, even after controlling for entering ability, application date, gender, and first-generation/low-income status. However, when instrumental variables were introduced to account for self-selection, the effects of themed learning communities on grades were not statistically significant. The results have implications for campus leaders and assessment practitioners who are working to develop methods for understanding the effects of programs designed to enhance the undergraduate educational experiences on their campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Research in Higher Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1007/s11162-010-9188-x
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learning communities
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      – SubjectFull: Student participation
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      – SubjectFull: Self-efficacy in students
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              Text: Mar2011
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