karen thomson jacqui mckechnie douglas forbes. widening access progression and retention figures ...

Do our students know what psychology is and does it matter: The need for an improved pre-induction programme?Karen ThomsonJacqui McKechnieDouglas Forbes

Widening access

Progression and retention figures

Scores on national key performance indicators (NSS and SB)

To gain an insight into the experience of 1st year Psy students

Implement support to help students deal effectively with the

transition to university

Explore the factors likely to affect academic performance

Background…

Karen Thomson, Jacqui McKechnie & Douglas Forbes

Ongoing project commenced 2002/03

The development of the current questionnaireHomesickness student expectations versus the reality

Data collection Time 1 – induction week Time 2 – end of semester A Academic performance

The Psychology Student Experience Project…


To identify common sources of information about the discipline of Psychology

To explore students’ expectations of the BSc Psychology programme

To explore the relationship between source of information about Psychology and satisfaction with the programme

Objectives of current study…


Formal psychology qualification Higher/A-level further education course reading serious text books acquaintance who is a psychologist television documentaries television entertainment magazines university prospectus open days other - please specify

What has been the main source of your information so far on psychology?


Groups (n=188)


Group Source of information Number of Participants

Academic Group formal qualification i.e. Psychology Higher or A-levelfurther education course

96

Media Group television documentariestelevision entertainment magazines

34

University Group university prospectusopen dayswebsite

58


How well informed do you think you are about the nature of psychology?

Group Time 1 Time 2

Academic Group

3.57 3.66

Media Group 2.76 4.68

University Group

3.02 3.22

Overall 3.26 3.71

(p= 0.017)


How well informed do you think you are about the BSc Psychology Degree Programme at Glasgow Caledonian University?

Group Time 1 Time 2

Academic Group

3.68 3.41


University Group

3.29 3.57


How sure are you that you have chosen the correct Degree Programme?

Group Time 1 Time 2

Academic Group

4.22 4.09


University Group

4.16 3.90*

Overall 4.12 3.97

*p=0.012


How satisfied are you to be on this Programme?

Group Time 1 Time 2

Academic Group

4.53 4.21***

Media Group 4.46 3.92***

University Group

4.53 4.21**

Overall 4.53 4.15***

**p<0.01 ***p<0.001


Some other interesting findings...Prior qualification in Psychology …35% of respondents had a prior qualification in Psychology95%of those with a prior qualification thought it had made the programme easier 67% of those without thought this had been a disadvantage

Confidence about careers decreases T1 T2…Those who had a previous psychology qualification felt more sure about what they planned to do after graduating than those who were informed about psychology from a media source

The most useful source of information is a previous qualification in Psychology

University sources are helpful but this should be addressed

Media sources give students confidence about the nature of Psychology but not about the content of an academic programme


Conclusions…

Enhanced induction programme◦ podcasts

Academic staff Support staff Students Virtual tour

Website

Applicant day (April) Presentation HoD, PL, key teaching staff & support staff

Open DaysKaren Thomson, Jacqui McKechnie &

Douglas Forbes

Outcomes...

karen thomson jacqui mckechnie douglas forbes. widening access progression and retention figures ...

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