Student characteristics and academic performance in higher education: A review

Abstract

were more likely to use contraceptives. The men and women students were similar in their reports of the type of contraceptives used by their partner. About the same proportions of students with a sexually transmitted disease reported using the pill or no method as reported using these methods overall. The highest proportion of disease existed among users of the IUD and douches, and the lowest proportion among users of the pill or condoms. The students who used the more recent methods of contraception (the pill and IUD) had about the same frequency of disease as those who used no method or other methods. Rectal intercourse and having more than one partner increased the risk of classic venereal disease.-Associate Professor ofpreventive Medicine More than 40 studies on the relationships between student characteristics and academic achievement are discussed. Results of such studies are often contradictory and usually not comparable due to the use of different performance criteria. The studies include complex and unique research on personality and motivational factors, but no clear trends have emerged. Other factors affecting achievement include class and home background, study habits, and expectations. Cluster analysis has proved a useful approach because it indicates groups of students with similar patterns of characteristics.-Social and Health Sciences, Ulster College, Northern Ireland Polytechnic, Northern Ireland. 051 9-14/BMM PERSONALITY Ahmed, S. M. S. Punctuality, Consistency, and Conformity. Psychological Reports, 1977, 41 (December) pp. 696-698.Two hundred and forty students were rated on 9-point scales for punctuality, consistency, and conformity by themselves, their peers, and their instructors. Pearson product-moment correlations among the ratings by self, peer, and instructor for each of the traits were very high (r's above .80) while correlations among the traits were low (r's on the order of .20). A principal-axis factor analysis of the correlational matrix with rotation to varimax criteria revealed that each of the measurements (self, peer, and instructor) of a trait loaded very heavily on that trait. Both methods of analysis reveal that punctuality, consistency, and conformity are independent traits.-Laurentian University, Canada. 0520-14lEAS 2481COLLEGE STUDENT PERSONNEL ABSTRACTS Averett, M., & McManis, D. L. Relationship Between Extraversion and Assertiveness and Related Personality Characteristics. Psychological Reports, 1977, 41 (December) pp.More than 100 undergraduate volunteers (25 men and 78 women) anonymously completed the Adult Self-Expression Scale (ASES) and the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The California Psychological Inventory (CPI) was then completed by 9 students scoring below the 25th percentile on both the ASES and the EPI Extraversion Scale, by 9 students scoring above the 75th percentile on both measures, and by 9 students scoring between the 48th and 62nd percentile on both measures. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant between-group differences on 7 of the ...

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