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From Community College Attendants to Baccalaureate Recipients: A Planned Behavior Model for Transfer Students in STEM Fields of Study

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  • Yi Leaf Zhang
  • Maria Adamuti-Trache
  • John Connolly

Abstract

Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Fishbein & Ajzen, 2010), our study aims to understand how community college transfer students’ STEM degree attainment behavior is shaped by their beliefs, intentions, contextual factors and social-demographic characteristics. This study drew upon data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002). The sample includes 1,761 students who began postsecondary education at a 2-year institution and attended a 4-year university later in their academic career. We employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to develop a fully specified model of STEM baccalaureate degree attainment for the transfer students. The findings of the study highlight the significant impact of gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on STEM degree attainment. Additionally, we distinguished transfer students’ intention to pursue a STEM field of study from intention to obtain a bachelor’s degree and found both intentions had significant effects on STEM baccalaureate degree attainment. Finally, the study findings show that college variables, such as taking remedial math courses, college GPA, and student loans, have significant effects on STEM degree attainment.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Leaf Zhang & Maria Adamuti-Trache & John Connolly, 2019. "From Community College Attendants to Baccalaureate Recipients: A Planned Behavior Model for Transfer Students in STEM Fields of Study," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 90(3), pages 373-401, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:uhejxx:v:90:y:2019:i:3:p:373-401
    DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2018.1536935
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    Cited by:

    1. Xueli Wang & Yen Lee & Xiwei Zhu & Ayse Okur Ozdemir, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship Between Community College Students’ Exposure to Math Contextualization and Educational Outcomes," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 63(2), pages 309-336, March.
    2. Peter Riley Bahr & Jon McNaughtan & Grant R. Jackson, 2023. "Reducing the Loss of Community College Students who Demonstrate Potential in STEM," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(5), pages 675-704, August.

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