Abstract
This paper reports a study designed to develop and validate a measure of quality of college life (QCL) of students. Using a theoretical model based on a build-up approach to QCL, the authors provide an empirical examination of various hierarchical components and their properties. The method is executed in two stages. The first stage is used to clarify the particular elements for inclusion in the model. The second phase uses a sample of students drawn for the campuses of three major universities in the United States. These samples were used to test several hypotheses regarding the model and its components. The results generally provide support. Finally, the discussion centers on the value of the model in application by both university officials and public policy officials in the at-large community.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrews F. W. and Withey S. B. (1976). Social Indicators of Well-being: America’s Perception of Life Quality. Plenum Press, New York
Benjamin M. (1994). The quality of student life: toward a coherent conceptualization. Social Indicators Research 31: 205–264
Bloom B. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Handbook 1: Cognitive Domain. Logmans, Green, New York
Bloom B., Hastings J. and Madaus G. (1971). Handbook on Formative and Summative Evaluation of Student Learning. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York
Campbell A., Converse P. E. and Rogers W. J. (1976). The Quality of American Life: Perceptions, Evaluations, and Satisfaction. Russell Sage Foundation, New York, NY
Cha K-H. (2003). Subjective well-being among college students. Social Indicators Research 62(1): 455–477
Chow H. P. H. (2005). Life satisfaction among university students in a Canadian prairie city: A multivariate analysis. Social Indicators Research 70(2): 139–150
Clifton R., Etcheverry E., Hasinoff S. and Roberts L. (1996). Measuring the cognitive domain of the quality of life of university students. Social Indicators Research 38(1): 29–52
Cohen E., Clifton R. A. and Roberts L. W. (2001). The cognitive domain of the quality of life of university students: A re-analysis of an instrument. Social Indicators Research 53(1): 63–77
Diener E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin 75(3): 542–575
Diener E., Suh E., Lucas R. and Smith H. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of research. Psychological Bulletin 125: 276–302
Disch W. B., Harlow L. L., Campbell J. F. and Dougan T. R. (2000). Student functioning, concerns, and socio-personal well-being. Social Indicators Research 51(1): 41–74
Kronholz, J.: 2005, Trends: Higher education; more students, higher prices, tougher competition. Wall Street Journal (January 31), p. R. 4
Maggino F. and Shifini D’Andrea S. (2003). Different scales for different survey methods: validation in measuring the quality of university life. In: Sirgy, M. J., Rahtz, D. and Samli, A. C. (eds) Advances in Quality-of-life Theory and Research, pp 233–256. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Makinen J. A. and Pychyl T. A. (2001). The differential effects of project stress on life satisfaction. Social Indicators Research 53(1): 1–16
Ng S. L. (2005). Subjective residential environment and its implications for quality of life among university students in Hong Kong. Social Indicators Research 71(1): 467–489
Pilcher J. J. (1998). Affective and daily events predictors of life satisfaction in college students. Social Indicators Research 43(3): 291–306
Reynolds R. (2004). A surge in college enrollment. Black Enterprise 34(10): 34May.
Roberts L. and Clifton R. (1992). Measuring the affective quality of life of university students: The validation of an instrument. Social Indicators Research 27: 113–137
Royal M. A. and Rossi R. J. (1993). A comparative approach to assessing the quality of life of intercollegiate athletes. Social Indicators Research 29(3): 317–330
Sirgy M. J. (2001). Handbook of Quality-of-life Research. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Sirgy M. J. (2002). The Psychology of Quality of Life. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
Smith J. H., Briers G. E. and Smith C. W. (2004). Correlates of quality of life of agricultural scholarship recipients. Social Indicators Research 69(1): 51–66
Symonds, W. C.: 2004, Rich college, poor college. Business Week, (3913), December, 88–90
Vaez M., Kristenson M. and Laflamme L. (2004). Perceived quality of life and self-rated health among first-year university students. Social Indicators Research 68(2): 221–234
Witmer J. M. and Sweeney T. J. (1982). A holistic model for wellness and prevention over the life span. Journal of Counseling and Development 71: 140–148
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sirgy, M.J., Grzeskowiak, S. & Rahtz, D. Quality of College Life (QCL) of Students: Developing and Validating a Measure of Well-Being. Soc Indic Res 80, 343–360 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5921-9
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-5921-9