The first-year experience: a review of literature for the Higher Education Academy Lee Harvey and Sue Drew with Maria Smith Centre for research and evaluation Sheffield Hallam University Acknowledgements Many thanks to those providing institutional grey literature for the in-depth study within this report. In particular thanks go to the following colleagues who provided access to appropriate individuals, provided examples of information and checking and approving drafts. Bridgette Bewick, Research Project Manager (UNIQoLL), University of Leeds. Professor Stuart Billingham, Director of Quality Innovation, York St John University College. Peter Hartley, Professor of Education Development, University of Bradford. At Sheffield Hallam University information was provided by many colleagues in Student Services, Registry, and Faculties. Thanks to Jackie Booth, Mark Wainman and Roger Hilyer for providing guidance on the information to be included. i The Higher Education Academy – October 2006 THE FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE: Executive Summary........................................... I I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. I II. Methodological approach to the review............................................................... I III. Overview of the published research ................................................................... I Performance and retention.................................................................................. II Factors impacting on performance and persistence ........................................... II Support for the first-year..................................................................................... III Learning and teaching........................................................................................ IV IV. Conclusions of the review of the published literature .................................... IV V. Institutional grey literature .................................................................................. V Statistical data..................................................................................................... V Information given to first-year students ............................................................... V Evaluations of modules and courses.................................................................. VI Reports on the usage of facilities or services for students................................. VI Institutional surveys on the student experience ................................................. VI VI. Conclusion of the review of the institutional grey literature .......................... VI VII. Implications for policy, practice and research .............................................. VII 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the review.................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 The first year .............................................................................................. 2 1.2 Aims and objectives .......................................................................................... 2 2 Methodological approach to the review............................................................... 4 2.1 Published and grey literature ............................................................................ 4 2.2 Pre-work............................................................................................................ 4 2.3 Methods for identifying published literature....................................................... 7 2.4 Methods of obtaining institutional grey literature............................................... 9 2.5 Justification of methods adopted..................................................................... 10 2.6 Reflections on the methodology...................................................................... 11 3 Overview of the published research .................................................................. 13 3.1 Methods used by researchers......................................................................... 14 3.2. Overview of Section 4: performance and retention, including predicting success, assessing performance and retention .................................................... 15 3.3 Overview of Section 5: factors impacting on performance and persistence, including institutional, personal and external factors............................................. 16 3.4 Overview of Section 6: support for the first-year, including induction, adjustment and skill support.................................................................................. 17 3.5 Overview of Section 7: learning and teaching, including new techniques for first-year groups and first-year learning behaviour................................................ 19 4 Performance and retention ................................................................................. 21 4.1 Predicting success .......................................................................................... 21 4.1.1 School or entrance-examination results................................................... 21 4.1.2 Aptitude tests............................................................................................ 23 4.1.3 Prior knowledge........................................................................................ 24 4.1.4 First-year performance............................................................................. 25 4.1.5 Previous assessment results.................................................................... 26 4.1.6 Late enrolment ......................................................................................... 26 4.1.7 Learning behaviour or styles .................................................................... 26 4.1.8 Personality traits....................................................................................... 27 4.1.9 Summary of predicting success ............................................................... 27 4.2 Assessing performance................................................................................... 28 4.2.1 Self-perception of ability or performance.................................................. 29 4.2.2 Abilities of first-year students ................................................................... 29 ii The Higher Education Academy – October 2006 4.2.3 Summary of assessing performance........................................................ 31 4.3 Withdrawal and retention ................................................................................ 31 4.3.1 Models of retention................................................................................... 31 4.3.2 Summary of withdrawal and retention...................................................... 34 5 Factors impacting on performance and persistence........................................ 35 5.1 Institutional experience, academic achievement and external factors ............ 35 5.1.1 Multiplicity of factors................................................................................. 35 5.1.2 Integration factors..................................................................................... 36 5.1.3 Preparedness and satisfaction................................................................. 37 5.1.3.1 Choice of programme........................................................................ 42 5.1.4 Summary of institutional experience, academic achievement and external factors................................................................................................................ 44 5.2 Social or academic integration ........................................................................ 44 5.2.1 Evidence of the importance of academic factors...................................... 44 5.2.2 Evidence of the importance of non-academic factors .............................. 45 5.2.3 Summary of social or academic integration ............................................. 47 5.3 The impact of student characteristics on performance and persistence ......... 47 5.3.1 Non-traditional students ........................................................................... 47 5.3.2 Social class .............................................................................................. 48 5.3.3 First generation ........................................................................................ 48 5.3.4 Mature students........................................................................................ 49 5.3.5 Gender ..................................................................................................... 50 5.3.6 Ethnicity.................................................................................................... 51 5.3.7 Urban and rural ........................................................................................ 52 5.3.8 Summary of the impact of student characteristics on performance and persistence........................................................................................................ 52 5.4 Impact of support programmes on performance and retention ....................... 53 5.4.1 Summary of the impact of support programmes on performance and retention ............................................................................................................ 54 5.5 Impact of paid work