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Impact of academic experience and school climate of diversity on student satisfaction

Learning Environments Research volume 22, pages 25–41 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Utilising data from a research university (N = 7219), we examined the extent to which three factors, climate of diversity (COD), course learning experience (CLE) and research practice experience, predicted undergraduates’ overall satisfaction. COD was the most influential predictor of student satisfaction after controlling for the other two. In addition, the moderation effects of gender and race/ethnicity on these predictive relationships were tested. Only race/ethnicity had a moderation effect on COD and CLE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas A&M University, 718C Harrington Office Building, 4225 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-4225, USA

    Shuqiong Lin

  2. University of Alabama, Martha Parham Hall 133G, Box 870399, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Timothy R. Salazar

  3. Texas A&M University, 349 Harrington Tower, 4232 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-4232, USA

    Shuang Wu

Authors
  1. Shuqiong Lin
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  2. Timothy R. Salazar
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  3. Shuang Wu
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Correspondence to Shuqiong Lin.

Appendix

Appendix

Factor structure

Scale

Items

Course learning experience

Attention and interests in class (AIC)

1

Contributed to a class discussion

2

Brought up ideas during class discussions

3

Asked an insightful question in class

4

Found a course so interesting that you did more work than was required

5

Chosen challenging courses

6

Made a class presentation

7

Interacted with faculty in class

Class preparation (CP)

8

Turned in a course assignment late

9

Gone to class without completing assigned reading

10

Gone to class unprepared

11

Skipped class

12

How much of your assigned course reading have you completed this year

Faculty connection (FC)

13

Had a class in which the professor knew your name

14

Communicated with a faculty member by e-mail or in person

15

Talked with the instructor outside of class about issues derived from a course

16

Worked with a faculty member on an activity other than coursework

Consolidated learning (CL)

17

Raised your standard for acceptable effort due to the high standards of a faculty member

18

Extensively revised a paper before submitting it

19

Sought academic help from instructor when needed

20

Worked on class projects with classmates outside of class

21

Helped a classmate better understand the course when studying together

Research practice experience (RPE)

On-class research activity (OCR)

22

A research project or paper as part of your work

23

At least one student research course

24

At least one independent research course

25

Assist faculty in research with course credit

26

Work on researches under the direction of faculty with course credit

Extra-curricular research activity (ECR)

27

Assist faculty in research for pay without credit

28

Assist faculty in research as a volunteer without credit

29

Work on researches under the direction of faculty for pay without credit

30

Work on researches under the direction of faculty as a volunteer without credit

Research skills gain (RSG)

31

Computer skills

32

Internet skills

33

Library research skills

34

Other research skills

School climate of diversity (COD)

35

Students are respected here regardless of their economic or social class

36

Students are respected here regardless of their gender

37

Students are respected here regardless of their race/ethnicity

38

Students are respected here regardless of their religious beliefs

39

Students are respected here regardless of their political beliefs

40

Students are respected here regardless of their sexual orientation

41

Students are respected here regardless of their disabilities

42

I feel free to express my political beliefs here

43

I feel free to express my religious beliefs here

44

Students of my race/ethnicity are respected here

45

Students of my socio-economic status are respected here

46

Students of my gender are respected here

47

Students of my religious beliefs are respected here

48

Students of my political beliefs are respected here

49

Students of my sexual orientation are respected here

50

Students of my immigration background are respected here

51

Students with a physical or psychological disability are respected here

Satisfaction and agreement (SAA)

52

Level of satisfaction with grade point average

53

Level of satisfaction with academic experience

54

Level of satisfaction with social experience

55

Value of your education for the price you’re paying

56

I feel that I belong at this institution

57

Knowing what I know now, I would still choose to enroll

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Lin, S., Salazar, T.R. & Wu, S. Impact of academic experience and school climate of diversity on student satisfaction. Learning Environ Res 22, 25–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10984-018-9265-1

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Keywords

  • Climate of diversity
  • Course learning experience
  • Research practice experience
  • Student satisfaction