Does SiZe Matter ? An analysis of Orientation Group Size and Cumulative GPA

Description: Three Freshman Orientation Groups of different size Group #1 Less than 10 students/group Total: 6 groups Group #3 More than 20 students/group Total: 6 groups Group #2 10 – 20 students/group Total: 6 groups Total Sample Size: 264

Description Extras: Total Sample Size: 264 Gender: Males 139 Females 125 Age: 17 – 72 years Ave = 24 years Ethnicity: Asian/Pacific Isle: Black Hispanic Native American Caucasian Unknown

Variables: Dependent Variable: Cumulative GPA (Entering Students with GPA a 0 so the CUM GPA = Semester GPA) Independent Variables:Course Section/Group Gender Age Ethnicity

Hypothesis: H 0 : µ group1 = µ group2 = µ group3 There is no difference between the cumulative GPA of students in relation to their group size. H a : µ group1 ≠ µ group2 ≠ µ group3 There is a difference between group size in relation to cumulative GPA. Research Question: Does attendance in a smaller size (n = < 10) students result in a higher GPA after the first semester?

ANOVA: No significance was found between group size and cumulative GPA, F (2, 261) = p =.350 Mean GPA for all three groups: Group 1: N = 38 GPA = 2.53 Group 2: N = 90 GPA = 2.73 Group 3: N = 136 GPA = 2.82

CORRELATION: A positive, but not significant, relationship existed between Cumulative GPA and Group Size, R =.086. Mean GPA for all three groups: Group 1: N = 38 GPA = 2.53 Group 2: N = 90 GPA = 2.73 Group 3: N = 136 GPA = 2.82

REGRESSION:  Group Size did not account for a difference in GPA, R 2 =.007, F(1, 261) = 1.961, p =.163  Gender did account for a difference in GPA, R 2 =.036, F(1, 261) = 7.690, p =.006  Age did no account for a difference in GPA R 2 =.044, F(1, 261) = 2.252, p =.135  Ethnicity did not account for a difference in GPA R 2 =.007, F(1, 261) = 1.961, p =.163

GENDER ANAYLSIS: Significance was found between group size and cumulative GPA, F (2, 261) = p =.005  Female students displayed higher GPAs than male students, regardless of group size. Female GPA:2.95 Male GPA:2.57

RESULTS:  Failed to reject the Null Hypothesis  Significance found for GENDER and GPA  Ethnicity limitation due to small samples of minority populations.  Separate study including all sections (N = 450) produced similar results (even a large size did not matter. SIZE DOES NOT MATTER!

DIRECTION:  Need to look at group attrition from matriculation to orientation course completion (drop outs have lower GPAs?  Conduct a study with group sizes > 30 for different results.  Controls for High School GPA and ACT as mitigating factors for self-selection and higher first semester GPA, regardless of orientation or orientation class size.  Replicate study = different results? Triangulate the data with literature, additional studies, etc.

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