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Dissertation
Exploring Millennial Students' Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Academic Persistence in College
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2025
Abstract
The demographics of college students in 2025 differ from those of the past. Faculty members must continuously adapt teaching methods for colleges to attract and retain students. Institutions must examine the ways in which self-efficacy may influence retention rates, particularly among students who lack confidence and strong academic support systems. I conducted this interpretive phenomenological study to explore the perceptions of millennial students about the influence of self-efficacy on their academic persistence at a community college in the Southeastern United States. The research questions aligned with Bandura’s (1993) self-efficacy theory, based on the concepts of mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social or verbal persuasion, and emotional and physiological states. The data that I collected via interviews described participants’ perceptions regarding the influence of self-efficacy on their academic persistence. The findings of this study illuminate factors that affect student self-efficacy, resiliency, and persistence, and the study documented the need for administrators and teachers to develop and integrate programs to help students acclimate during the 1st year of college. This study has added to the body of literature by incorporating phenomenological research methods in analyzing the extent to which self-efficacy influences the academic persistence of college students. By illuminating similarities among affected students and providing insight from the students’ perspectives, this study can inform improvements in policy and decision making, allowing institutions to attain meaningful increases in retention rates.
Details
- Title
- Exploring Millennial Students' Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Academic Persistence in College
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Jerry Johnson (Committee Member)Mark Malisa (Committee Chair)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 161
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Mark Joseph Nusspickel
- Identifiers
- 99381469154006600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida