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University students’ success: A psycho-sociological approach

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a basic model to analyse processes of change in educational institutions taking into account both individual and contextual variables. It aims to identify the basic factors of change in order to contribute to reduce the dispersion of research projects, both from close subjects and one subject alone within human sciences, in order to make scientific accumulation easier and to guide social practice better. This proposal is based on Cryer and Elton’s (Studies in Higher Education, 1: 75–86, 1990) contributions, in this case applied to the learning processes of university students. They may account for static and dynamic aspects. To prove its coherence, it has been statistically compared with the data of a survey carried out among university students in Catalonia (Spain).

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Professor Lewis Elton from the University College of London and Professor Gaspar Orriols from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona for their worthy comments and suggestions. This piece of research belongs to the Plan Nacional de Investigación científica, desarrollo e investigación tecnológica (BSO2003-06395/CPSO) (National Scheme of Scientific Research, Development and Technological Research) and has been financed by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Ministry of Science and Education) and the FEDER.

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Correspondence to Josep M. Masjuan.

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Masjuan, J.M., Troiano, H. University students’ success: A psycho-sociological approach. High Educ 58, 15–28 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9178-5

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