Date of Award

4-1985

Degree Name

Specialist in Education

Department

Educational Leadership, Research and Technology

First Advisor

Dr. Lawrence B. Schlack

Second Advisor

Dr. Charles C. Warfield

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

This study replicates an earlier (7/025,. May 1980) study in Kalamazoo (Michigan) Valley Community College investigating the factors which might influence student success or failure in Alpha English, ENG 098, a remedial English course. It also introduces the control variable of instructional method.

There were no significant changes in the relationship between the dependent variable (success/failure in ENG 098) and the independent variables (grade point average, credit hours attempted/earned, English Placement Exam score, age, sex, race and hours working) in the two studies. Subjects in the present study tended to be younger, were more likely to be male, and slightly less likely to be either working or a minority student than those in the previous study. None of these factors was significant predictors of success/failure, however, and they were also not significant predictors in the initial study.

Introducing the control variable on instructional method revealed that students in the lecture/discussion method sections were more likely to pass ENG 098 than students in the self-paced section. This was true for each variable which was introduced.

The College should continue to monitor grade distributions for differing instructional methods used for the same course. Academic advising should incorporate the findings of this and other studies.

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