Educational decision-making: an examination of the factors influencing the decision of students to study for a foundation degree

P. Greenbank

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

This paper examines the decision-making process of students who decided to study for a foundation degree. The research involved in-depth interviews with students who were on, or had recently completed, a foundation degree. The study found that students had not adopted a rational/comprehensive approach when making their decision. Indeed, the students only utilised limited sources of information; they did not consider a range of different options; and they often relied on informally absorbed information and their intuition. As a result, the students demonstrated a lack of understanding of the higher education system. This included students from middle class backgrounds (including those with one or more parent who had been to university). The study concludes by recommending that all students should have access high quality sources of impartial advice and they should be provided with help (through reflective exercises and activities such as analogical encoding) to make them more effective decision-makers.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventSociety for Research into Higher Education - Newport, United Kingdom
Duration: 8 Dec 200910 Dec 2009

Conference

ConferenceSociety for Research into Higher Education
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityNewport
Period8/12/0910/12/09

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