Financial Pasts, Presents, and Futures of Community College Students of a Personal Finance Course

Abstract

This study is an opportunity to share insights with librarians about students' ability to process information on personal finance. These insights might help librarians direct students to appropriate materials and resources. This article uses qualitative techniques to detect differences in student backgrounds and patterns in their ability to apply lesson content. The analysis suggests that males and females differently applied techniques they learned about how to approach spending. Moreover, students with chronic disadvantage applied the information less readily than those who had experienced shorter-term disadvantage.

KEYWORDS:

• financial education
• financial capabilities
• disadvantaged students
• qualitative methods
• cognitive load