Student Social Capital and Enriching Educational Experiences in Higher Education

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Griswold, Mary T.

Issue Date

2014

Type

Dissertation

Language

Keywords

Enriching Educational Experiences , Higher Education , NSSE , Senior Students , Social Capital , Social Capital Categories

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the effect of the enriching educational experience on student social capital. A social capital index was created based on Putnam's research (2000); social capital categories were drawn on Spellerberg's research (2001). Data were collected at a single land-grant western U.S. university by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The population consisted of 714 seniors. The analysis used the ANOVA and ordinary least squares regression. Fourteen equations estimated the differences between student social capital of the student participants and non-participants in the enriching educational experience (EEE). Social capital and six sub-groups of social capital (civic, trust, volunteering, giving, participation, meeting obligations) were the dependent variables. Enriching educational experiences (internship, community service, learning community, research with faculty, foreign language, studies abroad, independent study, and senior culminating experience) were the independent variables. Control variables were selected student attributes, e.g., fraternity or sorority membership, student athlete, parental education (fathers), gender, race and ethnicity, self-reported grades, and program of study. The findings showed that 15% to 20% of the difference in student social capital came from student participation in the EEE regardless of the type of social capital. The control variables did not change the basic model. Generally, the most significant experience of the model was the learning community for seven of the eight types of EEEs. Second and third most important EEEs were usually community service and the internship. This research contributes to the literature by providing important results relevant to higher education, the student and the community.

Description

Citation

Publisher

License

In Copyright(All Rights Reserved)

Journal

Volume

Issue

PubMed ID

DOI

ISSN

EISSN