the influence of commuter status on college students’ organization involvement and identification...
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The Influence of Commuter Status on College Students’ Organization
Involvement and Identification With Their University
Heather DiazEnvironmental Analysis & Design
School of Social EcologyUROP Symposium
May 31, 2008
Rumor has it…
UC Irvine is a commuter school.
Rumor has it…
There’s nothing to do at UCI.
Rumor has it…
Commuter students don’t really get involved.
Previous Research
Usually the commuter participates very little in community affairs. The Effect of Commuting on Participation in Community Organizations. Alvin H. Schaff, 1952
Commuting students are those who live off-campus and are usually required to do so due to job requirements, cultural attachments, or social obligations.Encouraging Commuter Student Connectivity. Barbara D. Davis, 1999
Another problem experienced by commuter students is that it becomes easier for students to be involved in competing off-campus
social roles.Academic Performance in College Town.
Mark Delucchi, 1993
Research Question
What differences are there between commuter and non-commuter
students with respect to membership in campus
organizations and involvement?
Hypotheses
H1. Commuters (especially those who live the greatest distances away from the university campus) will experience a lower sense of commitment to campus involvements.
H2. Commuters will exhibit lower levels of involvement with campus organizations as compared to their non-commuter counterparts.
Methods
•Survey
•Cognitive Maps
•Environmental Observations
Demographics
Number of Valid Surveys39
Number of Self-Identified Non-Commuters* 26
*-based on response to a two-option question
Number of Self-Identified Commuters* 11
Average Age of Respondent 21 (Range from 18-33)
Gender 21 female, 18 male
Commuter Status
Do you live on-campus?
If you live off-campus, do you consider yourself to be a commuter?-the discrepancy between the # of students who report living off campus but don’t consider themselves to be commuters could be explained several ways
Yes No
14 25
11 26
InvolvementFigure 1. Number of Organizations
ResultsRecoding Variables
RoleOrg1 RoleOrg2
RoleOrgA RoleOrgB
RoleOrgTime
Results
Females
Figure 2a. Role in Organizations
Results
MalesFigure 2b. Role in Organizations
Results
RoleOrgTime
Figure 3. Time Spent in Organizations
Cognitive Maps
Conclusions
H1. Commuters (especially those who live the greatest distances away from the university campus) will experience a lower sense of commitment to campus involvements.
H2. Commuters will exhibit lower levels of involvement with campus organizations as compared to their non-commuter counterparts.
Inconclusive.
Survey Completion
Definition of terms
Data source
Limitations
Future Research
Sense of Community
Commuter-Status
Connectivity to Campus
Acknowledgements
Dr. Daniel Stokols
Dr. H.C. Clitheroe, Jr.
Shalini Misra
Dr. Valerie Jenness
Social Ecology Honors Class