Time Perspective and Grade Expectations as Predictors of Student Achievement and Retention in the First Year of Community College
Department
Secondary and Middle Grades Education
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2023
Abstract
The authors examined three motivational factors (first-year grade expectations, present-focused time perspective, and future-focused time perspective) as predictors of achievement and retention outcomes for students (N = 844) in their first semester at a predominately Hispanic-serving community college, accounting for student background characteristics. In this correlation research study, instructors administered surveys to students in a required first-year orientation course. Survey data was then merged with institutional data. The results of the multiple regression analysis suggested that first-year grade expectations, present-focused time perspective, age, ethnicity, first-generation status, and academically underprepared status were statistically significant predictors of first-semester GPA and explained 9.0% of the variation, whereas future-focused time perspective, sex, and economically disadvantaged status were not. First-year grade expectations and economically disadvantaged status significantly predicted second-semester retention; the other study predictors did not. This study expands research on malleable motivational factors educators could target to support students in their first year of community college.
Journal Title
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory and Practice
Journal ISSN
15210251
Volume
24
Issue
4
First Page
924
Last Page
946
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1177/1521025120960676