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Dissertation Information for Richard Novak

NAME:
- Richard Novak

DEGREE:
- Ed.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Education

SCHOOL:
- Rutgers University (USA) (1992)

ADVISORS:
- None

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Not_Inspected

Title: Effects of age composition on academic achievement in college classrooms

Abstract: A recent study (Bowman, 1989) on the impact of varying age composition on the classroom environment and outcomes of learning in the classroom has brought forth provocative and promising results.

Further pursuing this line of inquiry, the present study sought to determine the effects of college classroom age composition on aggregate classroom achievement. It was posited that socio-maturational differences between adults and pre-adults exert significant effects on classroom dynamics. Specifically, the relative proportion of adults has an effect on the expectations for normative behaviors with respect to the role of student. These expectations and resultant normative behaviors affect the classroom social climate and academic performance. It was, therefore, hypothesized that aggregate student achievement in college classes is a positive linear function of higher class enrollments by adults.

The data comprised 2,175 students in 84 classes at a major research university in the Northeast. Data were aggregated for each class using individual student data obtained from university records. The class was the unit of analysis.

Classes were categorized by class age composition according to the percentage of adults in the class and by subject matter. Factorial analysis of variance was used to test the effects of age composition on academic achievement. Average grades for each class were computed and segmented according to class age composition and subject matter. Secondary analyses explored performance differences by gender, subject matter, and the class ratio of adults to pre-adults.

As predicted, chronological age, per se, was found not to be related to performance. Classroom age composition, that is, the proportion of adults in the class, was found to exert significant effects on academic performance. Average course grades were found to increase with an increase in adult class composition, with minor exceptions. Secondary analyses revealed important and provocative results pertaining to gender. Subject matter was also found to have significant effects on academic achievement for both class age composition and gender analyses. The results of the study yielded important policy and practice implications for adult education practitioners and researchers.

MPACT Scores for Richard Novak

A = 0
C = 1
A+C = 1
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:11:13

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Students under Richard Novak

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- Gayle Stein - Rutgers University (2000)