FACTORS AFFECTING COLLEGE DECISION MAKING OF UNDER PREPARED STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF PHOTHAWATTANASENEE SCHOOL RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this study were 1) to study the levels of students’ growth mindset, parental expectation, peer influence, and teachers and seniors’ advice  2) to examine college-going decisions of students with academic support needs, and 3) to investigate the effect of growth mindset, parental expectation, peer influence, and teachers and seniors’ advice on the college-going decisions of 191 students with academic support needs whose grade point average was less than or equal to 2.75. The sample size in this study was calculated using the Krejcie and Morgan formula, while stratified random sampling was employed to select the research participants. The survey instrument was a 28-item questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale, which had internal consistency of 0.92. Statistics used to analyze the data included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and multiple linear regression. The research had three findings. First, the growth mindset level, parental expectation, and teachers and seniors’ advice were at a high level, although peer influence was just moderate. Second, students with academic support needs were highly motivated to enter college. Third, growth mindset (p<.01) and teachers and seniors’ advice (p<.05) were two significant factors that influenced students with academic support needs to pursue higher education.