Undecided students: a study of decision-making styles and choosing a college major at Rowan University

The purposes of this study were (a) to investigate the decision-making styles of undecided students who are in the process of choosing a major at Rowan University, (b) to investigate students' reactions to making a real-life decision such as choosing a major, and (c) to determine if there is a significant relationship between students' decision-making styles and the characteristics of gender, ethnicity, and class level. The subjects in this study were undecided, full-time, freshman and sophomore students in the Exploratory Studies Program (ESP) at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, during the 2012-2013 academic year. A survey consisting of 59 Likert scale items was used to collect data on demographics, decision-making styles and reactions to the decision-making process. Data analysis suggests that undecided students are thinking logically and conducting thorough searches in the decision-making process of choosing a major. Data analysis also suggests that undecided students see the outcome of their major decision as being life-framing. A weak positive correlation was found between gender and students' level of agreement that they often procrastinate when making important decisions. There were no statistically significant correlations between decision-making and ethnicity or class level.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. Higher Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Services, Administration, and Higher Education

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Pasquarella, Kathleen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sisco, Burton

• College majors
• Higher Education

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/391

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1390