Date Approved
3-15-2017
Embargo Period
3-16-2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
EdD Educational Leadership
Department
Educational Services and Leadership
College
College of Education
First Advisor
Kerrigan, Monica
Second Advisor
Milou, Eric
Third Advisor
Perry, Jill
Keywords
Algebra, College-Level Math, Developmental Education, Liberal Arts Math, Local Randomization, Regression Discontinuity
Subject(s)
Underprepared community college students; Algebra--Study and teaching
Disciplines
Community College Leadership | Science and Mathematics Education
Abstract
Many students enter community college underprepared for college-level math and are placed into developmental elementary algebra without consideration if the algebra will provide a foundation for their needed college-level math course. Large percentages of those students are unable to succeed in the developmental course and, therefore, are unable to graduate (Bahr, 2008; Bailey, Jeong, & Cho, 2010). This quasi-experimental design focused on students who are not in math-intensive majors, needing only a general liberal arts math course. The purpose was to determine the impact of the elementary algebra course on success in college-level math and persistence in college. Student performance data were aggregated from four community colleges within a state in the northeastern United States. Students' success in a college-level liberal arts math course and total credits earned were examined. An independent t test showed students who scored above the cut-off for developmental placement outperforming those who scored below, yet all differences disappeared when a regression discontinuity was implemented, leading to a conclusion that the actual placement in developmental algebra had no impact on students' success in college-level math or total credits earned.
Recommended Citation
Austin, Lori Ann, "The impact of an elementary algebra course on student success in a college-level liberal arts math course and persistence in college" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 2372.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/2372