AAQ-GPA and Jobs

Source Introduction Student employment has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in American colleges and universities. Historical data shows that a large percentage of students have always worked while studying, but the trend has risen sharply since the 1960s. Studies suggest that approximately 80% of American undergraduates worked while attending college in the early 2000s. The reasons for student employment range from financial necessity to gaining work experience. This study aims to explore the impact of student employment on academic performance, specifically focusing on cumulative GPA and controlling for various student background factors. Participants The study involved a large sample size of 5,223 senior college students. This extensive sample allowed for more robust and reliable statistical analyses, addressing the limitations of previous studies that often used smaller samples or only focused on first-year GPAs. Method The researchers employed various statistical methods, including correlation matrices, regression analyses, ANOVA, and independent sample t-tests. They treated student employment both as a homogeneous and a heterogeneous experience to understand its effects on GPA comprehensively. The study also controlled for multiple confounding variables, such as gender, family income, first-generation status, campus residency status, ACT scores, and college GPA. Results and Discussions • Non-working students had a GPA that was 0.061 points higher than their working counterparts. • When treated as a heterogeneous category, student employment had a negative effect on GPA (β = -0.13; R² = 0.017) after controlling for other variables. • The negative effect of student employment on GPA was statistically significant but practically minimal. • Gender, family income, first-generation status, campus residency, and ACT scores significantly influenced the number of hours students worked per week, except for race.