Exploring the Relationship Between the Co-Curriculum and Academic Outcomes: A Methodology

Authors

Natalie Berger, Indiana Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Higher education is currently evaluating the value of non-academic components of four-year institutions, particularly in relation to their impact on academic outcomes. In evaluating these areas, new methodologies are consistently developed exploring the co-curriculum and academic outcomes. However, no methodologies exist that evaluate the relationship between student involvement and academic outcomes. The methodology outlined in this research develops a quantitative means of measuring the relationship between student involvement in the co-curriculum and academic outcomes abilities using two new measures. These measures were then tested for reliability and validity. The researcher collected and scored student essays, which measured student ability in academic outcomes. Students also completed a questionnaire asking questions about involvement in seven areas of campus: residence hall activities, all campus events, leadership, multicultural, spiritual, intellectual, and athletics. Scores from the essays and the surveys were matched, and then analyzed. Both measures were found to have reliability and validity.

Recommended Citation

Berger, Natalie (2015) "Exploring the Relationship Between the Co-Curriculum and Academic Outcomes: A Methodology," Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development: Vol. 14: No. 14, Article 4.
Available at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/acsd_growth/vol14/iss14/4