Introduction
Background and research questions
Method
Survey design
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I trust other students in this program.
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I feel isolated from other students in this program. (This was a negatively worded version of the item “I feel connected to others in this course”. Both the positively and negatively worded items are on “Rovai’s Classroom Community Scale” (2002)).
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I can rely on classmates to help me.
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I can rely on classmates to respond to my course questions quickly.
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I work with classmates because it helps me understand course content better.
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I work with classmates because it saves time.
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I work with classmates because it keeps me motivated to keep working.
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I work with classmates because classmates provide useful feedback for my work.
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Instructors are available when I have any question in a course.
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Instructors are approachable if I have any questions in a course.
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I don’t want to look stupid so I don’t ask instructors questions outside of class.
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I would not hesitate to ask an instructor for help.
Pilot-test
Administering the survey
Results
How did on-campus students contact peers and instructors when seeking help?
What attitudinal factors motivate students to seek academic help?
Factor | 1. Peer usefulness | 2. Perception of instructors | 3. Peer trust | 4. Independ-ence | 5. Perception of course | 6. Threat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Peer Usefulness | 1.00 | |||||
2. Perception of instructors | .07 | 1.00 | ||||
3. Peer Trust | −.43 | −.15 | 1.00 | |||
4. Independence | −.13 | .09 | .10 | 1.00 | ||
5. Perception of course | −.06 | −.29 | .05 | −.09 | 1.00 | |
6. Threat | .01 | −.27 | .09 | −.20 | .19 | 1.00 |
Factors | 1. Usefulness of peers | 2. Perception of instructors | 3. Peer trust | 4. Indepen-dence | 5. Perception of course | 6. Threat |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eigenvalues | 5.28 | 3.11 | 1.67 | 1.39 | 1.06 | 1.01 |
Percentage of variance | 26.42 | 15.57 | 8.35 | 6.96 | 5.29 | 5.04 |
Cumulative percentage | 26.42 | 41.99 | 50.34 | 57.30 | 62.60 | 67.63 |
Questionnaire items | ||||||
Classmates help me understand course content better | .753 | |||||
Work w classmates because I enjoy it | .685 | |||||
Working w classmates results in better work completed | .911 | |||||
Working with classmates saves time | .901 | |||||
Working with classmates keeps me motivated to keep working. | .812 | |||||
Classmates provide useful feedback for my work | .711 | |||||
Instructors are available when I have any questions. | .811 | |||||
Instructors are approachable | .698 | |||||
Instructors in program are knowledgeable | .672 | |||||
I can rely on instructors to respond to course questions within a few hours. | .771 | |||||
Trust other students in the program | −.835 | |||||
Rely on classmates to help me | −.835 | |||||
Rely on classmates to respond to course questions within a few hours | −.826 | |||||
Enjoy discussing my ideas about course content with other students | −.655 | |||||
Prefer to do schoolwork on my own | .805 | |||||
Prefer to learn by trying things for myself | .854 | |||||
I feel this program has a manageable workload. | −.872 | |||||
I would recommend this program to others. | −.722 | |||||
Reverse of “Don’t want to look stupid” | −.894 | |||||
I would not hesitate to ask an instructor for help. | −.741 |
Can attitudinal factors help predict help-seeking behavior?
Correlation of attitude and behavior
Factor | 1. Class Rep | 2. Non-classmates | 3. Staff | 4. Instructors | 5. Self |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eigenvalue | 1.704 | 1.704 | 1.545 | 1.451 | 1.435 |
Percentage of variance | 15.49 | 15.49 | 14.05 | 13.19 | 13.05 |
Cumulative percentage of variance | 15.49 | 30.98 | 45.02 | 58.22 | 71.26 |
Variables | |||||
Class representative (academic issues) | .897 | ||||
Class representative (admin issues) | .916 | ||||
Other students (academic issues) | .683 | ||||
Another person (academic issues) | .800 | ||||
Work colleague (academic issues) | .709 | ||||
Program head (admin issues) | .852 | ||||
Admin staff (admin issues) | .875 | ||||
Instructor (academic issues) | .835 | ||||
Instructor (admin issues) | .812 | ||||
Address it on my own (academic issues) | .828 | ||||
Address it on my own (admin issues) | .838 |
Attitudinal Factors | Behavioral Factors | ||||
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1. Class Rep | 2. Others non-classmates | 3. Resources | 4. Instructor | 5. On own | |
1. Peer Usefulness | .140* | .088 | .043 | .125 | .042 |
2. Perception of instructors | −.011 | −.102 | .056 | .312* | .038 |
3. Peer trust | −.089 | .034 | −.031 | −.145* | −.105 |
4. Independence | −.054 | .007 | .011 | .184* | .249* |
5. Perception of course | −.021 | −.014 | .051 | −.150* | −.015 |
6. Threat | −.021 | −.019 | .025 | −.372* | .010 |
Regression of attitude with behavior
B
|
SE B
|
β
| |
---|---|---|---|
Step 1 | |||
Constant | 0.02 | 0.05 | |
Threat | −0.36 | 0.05 | −.37* |
Step 2 | |||
Constant | 0.02 | 0.05 | |
Threat | −0.30 | 0.05 | −.31* |
Perception of instructors | 0.23 | 0.05 | .23* |
Step 3 | |||
Constant | 0.02 | ||
Threat | −0.28 | 0.05 | −.29* |
Perception of instructors | 0.22 | 0.05 | .23* |
Independence | 0.11 | 0.05 | .11** |