Date of Award
3-3-1994
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Teaching & Learning
First Advisor
Donald L. Piper
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between high school size and university major for 1989-90 and 1990-91 baccalaureate graduates from the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University. The general research question investigated the relationship between the size of the high school graduating class and the student's major area of concentration when graduating from college.The number of students reviewed in this study was 1,455 of which 761 were UND graduates and 694 were NDSU graduates. The North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network Student Information System and the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction were the two data sources for the study. High school data (ACT scores and SAT scores) and college data (majors, changes and types of changes in college major, number of semesters/quarters to graduate, and grade point average earned prior to graduation) for each student were collected from the North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network Student Information System. The data were analyzed using analyses of variance, multiple mean comparison procedures, Pearson Product-Moment Correlations, and Chi square frequencies.This study found no significant differences in the collegiate academic performance of students from small high school graduating classes and the collegiate academic performance of students from larger high school graduating classes. In fact, generally students from smaller sized high schools in this sample appeared to have scored in the top range of the ACT, maintained higher grade point averages, and completed their degree programs in a fewer number of semesters. However, students from small high schools were less likely to major in mathematics or science than were students from larger high schools. They also were more likely to transfer out of mathematics or science majors than were students from larger high schools. Students from small North Dakota high schools were more likely to come from high schools in which smaller numbers of mathematics and/or science courses were offered and smaller numbers of mathematics and science teachers taught.
Recommended Citation
Morgan, Mary Jo, "Relationships between high school size and university major for 1989--1990 and 1990--1991 graduates from the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University." (1994). Theses and Dissertations. 7715.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/7715