Exploring college major choice and middle school student behavior, affect and learning
Maria Ofelia Z. San Pedro, Ryan S. Baker, Neil Thomas Heffernan, Jaclyn L. Ocumpaugh · 2015
Choosing a college major is a major life decision. Interests stemming from students' ability and self-efficacy contribute to eventual college major choice. In this paper, we consider the role played by student learning, affect and engagement during middle school, using data from an educational software system used as part of regular schooling. We use predictive analytics to leverage automated assessments of student learning and engagement, investigating which of these factors are related to a chosen college major. For example, we already know that students who game the system in middle school mathematics are less likely to major in science or technology, but what majors are they more likely to select? Using data from 356 college students who used the ASSISTments system during their middle school years, we find significant differences in student knowledge, performance, and off-task and gaming behaviors between students who eventually choose different college majors.