Elliott, J W; Thevenin, M K and Bigelow, B F (2017) Promoting CM student success: Establishing an academic performance benchmark given construction-education self-efficacy, motivation and planned behavior. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 13(4), pp. 284-98. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
High levels of self-efficacy, motivation and intentions to perform well are necessary to achieve high grade point averages (GPA) in demanding academic programs including engineering, mathematics and the sciences. However, scant research has investigated these constructs within the domain of construction management (CM) education. The Construction Training Attitudes and Intentions Scale (CTAIS), which adapts self-efficacy, motivation and planned behavior constructs to the construction-education domain, was administered among CM and Non-CM students (n = 633) enrolled in courses required for a bachelor degree at three American Council for Construction Education accredited programs. Significant differences (p < .001) in construction-education domain-level constructs were observed for CM and Non-CM majors providing evidence of face validity. CM majors (n = 587) were separated for ANOVA. Significant differences in self-efficacy (p = .014) and planned behavior (p = .001) were observed by GPA. Post-hoc analysis revealed differences in these constructs based on GPA above, or below, 3.0. CM majors (n = 587) were aggregated using the 3.0 GPA benchmark (GPA > 3.0, n = 328; GPA< 3.0, n = 239). T-test results revealed significantly higher levels of self-efficacy (p = .001) and planned behavior (p < .001) among students with GPAs above 3.0. This study provides CM educators with a domain-specific measure to target students for interventions that promote success. Limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed.;High levels of self-efficacy, motivation and intentions to perform well are necessary to achieve high grade point averages (GPA) in demanding academic programs including engineering, mathematics and the sciences. However, scant research has investigated these constructs within the domain of construction management (CM) education. The Construction Training Attitudes and Intentions Scale (CTAIS), which adapts self-efficacy, motivation and planned behavior constructs to the construction-education domain, was administered among CM and Non-CM students (n = 633) enrolled in courses required for a bachelor degree at three American Council for Construction Education accredited programs. Significant differences (p < .001) in construction-education domain-level constructs were observed for CM and Non-CM majors providing evidence of face validity. CM majors (n = 587) were separated for ANOVA. Significant differences in self-efficacy (p = .014) and planned behavior (p = .001) were observed by GPA. Post-hoc analysis revealed differences in these constructs based on GPA above, or below, 3.0. CM majors (n = 587) were aggregated using the 3.0 GPA benchmark (GPA > 3.0, n = 328; GPA< 3.0, n = 239). T-test results revealed significantly higher levels of self-efficacy (p = .001) and planned behavior (p < .001) among students with GPAs above 3.0. This study provides CM educators with a domain-specific measure to target students for interventions that promote success. Limitations and opportunities for further research are discussed.;
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | planned behavior; academic performance; grade point average; construction management; self-efficacy; motivation; studies; academic achievement; construction; effectiveness; students; education; quality; construction planning; benchmarks |
| Index terms: | effectiveness, planned behaviour, academic achievement, construction planning, self-efficacy, academic performance, validity, evidence, grade point average, program, construction education, motivation, face, science |
| Subjects: | human factors and perception, specialized education, evaluation and assessment methods, construction planning, psychology, software systems, educational resources, performance management, behavioral psychology, assessment methods, professional education |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Education, Organizational Design, Site Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here