A Major in Science? Initial Beliefs and Final Outcomes for College Major and Dropout

Ralph Stinebrickner and Todd Stinebrickner

No 20134, University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP) Working Papers from University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP)

Abstract: Taking advantage of unique longitudinal data, we provide the first characterization of what college students believe at the time of entrance about their final major, relate these beliefs to actual major outcomes, and, provide an understanding of why students hold the initial beliefs about majors that they do. The data collection and analysis are based directly on a conceptual model in which a student’s final major is best viewed as the end result of a learning process. We find that students enter school quite optimistic about obtaining a science degree, but that relatively few students end up graduating with a science degree. The substantial overoptimism about completing a degree in science can be attributed largely to students beginning school with misperceptions about their ability to perform well academically in science.

Keywords: Education; College Major; Dropout; Science; Learning; Expectations Data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (58)

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Related works:
Journal Article: A Major in Science? Initial Beliefs and Final Outcomes for College Major and Dropout (2014)
Working Paper: A Major in Science? Initial Beliefs and Final Outcomes for College Major and Dropout (2013)
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