Characteristics and Opinions of Traditional and Non-Traditional College Students
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1980 Characteristics and Opinions of Traditional and Non-Traditional College Students. Micheal Randolph Moffett Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Moffett, Micheal Randolph, "Characteristics and Opinions of Traditional and Non-Traditional College Students." (1980). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 3506. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/3506 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8103618 MOFFETT, MICHEAL RANDOLPH CHARACTERISTICS AND OPINIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND NON- TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS The Lousiana State University and ED.D. 1980 Agricultural and Mechanical Col. University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark . 1. Glossy photographs_______ __ 2. Colored illustrations________ 3. Photographs with dark background_______ 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. °rint shows through as there is text on both sides of _______page 6. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pagess/ 7. Tightly bound copy with print lost in________ spine _ 8. Computer printout pages with indistinct print ________ 9. 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CHARACTERISTICS AND OPINIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in The Interdepartmental Program of Education by Micheal Randolph Moffett B.A. Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, 1969 M.Ed., Northwestern State University of Louisiana, 1971 August 1980 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to express his indebtedness and sincere appreciation to the persons who aided him in this study. Gratitude is expressed to the members of the ad visory committee, Dr. James A. Firnberg, Dr. J. Berton Gremillion, Dr. Richard A. Musemeche and Dr. Robert C. VonBrock. A special expression of thanks is made to Dr. Leonard L. Kilgore for his patience, understanding and counsel. An expression of gratitude is also extended to Mr. Robert Kuhn for his assistance in data analysis and Ms. Joy Perry for her patience in the typing of the manuscript. Finally, the writer wishes to express loving gratitude and appreciation to the most wonderful wife in the world, Barbara, for her aide and patience and to his children, Jeff and Melissa, for their patience when they needed attention and care. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......................................... ii LIST OF T A B L E S ....................................... v ABSTRACT ................................................ viii Chapter I . INTRODUCTION ................................. 1 Statement of the Problem ................. 3 Statement of the Research Questions .... 3 Definition of Terms ........................ 5 Significance of the Study ................. 5 Delimitation of the Study ................. 7 Sources of D a t a ............................ 7 Procedure for the S t u d y .................... 8 Organization of the Study ................. 8 II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ............... 10 Changing Student Population ............... 11 Effects of Changing Student P o p u l a t i o n .............................. 16 Review of Adult Education ................. 18 Description of Non-Traditional S t u d e n t s ................................. 20 Description of Traditional Students .... 24 Factors Affecting Part-Time S t u d e n t s ................................. 25 S u m m a r y ..................................... 28 III. METHODOLOGY................................... 31 Setting of the S t u d y ...................... 31 Population of the S t u d y .................... 32 Construction of the Instrument ........... 32 Selection of the S a m p l e .................... 34 Conducting the Survey ...................... 34 Analysis of the D a t a ...................... 35 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Chapter Page IV. ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF D A T A ................. 37 Introduction ................................. 37 University Status of Students ............. 37 Personal Characteristics and General Background of Students ................. 43 Educational Background and College Choice of Students...........................53 Employment Information of Students .......... 74 Opinions, Needs and Concerns of Students ................................. 81 Comments of Students ........................ 101 Tests of Null Hypothesis..................... 109 V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 115 S u m m a r y .......................................115 Conclusions .................................. 123 Recommendations ............................ 125 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................... 128 APPENDICES...............................................134 A. The Instrument.............................135 B. Memorandum Sent to F a c u l t y ............... 148 C. List of Classes in S a m p l e ............... 150 D. Directions for Survey Administrators..........................152 VITA ...................................................... 154 iv LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Classification of Students and Academic College/School of Students ................... 39 2. Date Students First Enrolled at South eastern Louisiana University ................. 40 3. Degree Objective of Students .................... 42 4. Grade Point Average and Academic Proba tion Status of S t u d e n t s ....................... 44 5. Distribution of Students by Age and Sex .... 45 6 . Ethnic Origin and Marital Status of Students......................................... 47 7. City of R e s i d e n c e .................................48 8 . Financing of Educational Expenses ............. 51 9. Primary Methods of Students' Financing of Educational Expenses ...................... 52 10. Educational Experience Since High S c h o o l ........................................... 54 11. Students' College/University Experiences Since High S c h o o l .............................. 55 12. Source of Information About Southeastern Louisiana University .......................... 57 13. Source of Information About Southeastern Louisiana University by College of M a j o r ........... 59 14. Factors Motivating Students to Enroll at Southeastern Louisiana University ........... 62 15. Primary Factor Motivating Student to Enroll at Southeastern Louisiana University.......................................63 v LIST OF TABLES (CONTINUED) Table Page 16. Students' Primary Motive to Enroll By College of M a j