The Impact of Colleges and the Involvement of Male and Female Students

Abstract

This article summarizes research and theoretical models that are relevant to three sets of determinants of the educational careers of college entrants: their social and academic backgrounds, characteristics of the colleges they attend, and their roles and experiences after they enter college. These determinants were integrated into a causal model to examine their joint influences on men and women. The model was tested using the LISREL maximum likelihood estimates for measurement and structural parameters. Continuing effects of socioeconomic status, aptitude, high school preparation, and commitment to goals were found, as well as important effects of achievement in college, involvement in the student role, and changes in the students' commitment to goals. Several gender differences were also found