Predicting First-Year College Student Retention: Validation of the College Persistence Questionnaire in a Spanish Sample

Rafael García-Ros, Francisco Pérez-Gónzalez, María Castillo Fuentes and Francisco Cavas-Martínez
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Rafael García-Ros: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Francisco Pérez-Gónzalez: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
María Castillo Fuentes: Department of Behavioral Sciences Methodology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Francisco Cavas-Martínez: Department of Structures, Construction and Graphical Expression, Technical University of Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 16, 1-8

Abstract: This paper analyzes the factorial and predictive validity of a Spanish adaptation of the College Persistence Questionnaire (SCPQ) on the retention of first year students (FYS) at university. The participants were 490 FYS from two public universities in Southern Europe (Spain). Factorial analysis of the SCPQ (χ 2 /gl = 1.66, CFI = 0.92, NNFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.04) showed six reliable dimensions, similar to those found in the original study: Academic Integration, Social Integration, Supportive Services Satisfaction, Academic Conscientiousness, Degree Commitment and Institutional Commitment. Logistic regression showed that institutional commitment significantly predicted FYS’ permanence. The results support SCPQ’s validity as an adequate and useful tool for assessing FYS’ academic experiences involved in student retention.

Keywords: higher education; first-year university students; permanence; student retention; student support services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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