College Student Ratings of Student Academic Support: Frequency, Importance, and Modes of Communication

Abstract

Research suggests that student academic support plays a vital role at the college level as students often view communication with peers as their primary source of academic support (Thompson, 2008). This research advances the Student Academic Support Scale (SASS) as a method of assessing the frequency, importance, and mode of communicating academic support among college students. Study one details scale development procedures, presents the results of factor analysis, and advances the SASS. Study two examines the frequency and importance of specific supportive behaviors and explores the modes commonly used by students to communicate academic support. Implications for teachers, scholars, and university administrators are discussed.

Keywords:

• Student Support
• Academic Support
• Social Support
• Scale Development
• Student Retention

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Andrew Ledbetter for his assistance with the manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Blair Thompson

Blair Thompson (Ph.D. 2007, University of Nebraska–Lincoln) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at Western Kentucky University

Joseph P. Mazer

Joseph P. Mazer (M.S. 2006, Illinois State University) is a Doctoral Candidate in the School of Communication Studies at Ohio University