ERIC Number: ED392907
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995-Jul
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Focus Groups: An Active Learning Approach to Identifying Nontraditional Students' Needs.
McCormick, Cynthia
Thirty-one female psychology students with a mean age of 31 years (all enrolled at a public liberal arts institution at which 49% of all students are over the age of 25) were invited to participate in a focus group to discover their perspective of the college experience and identify their concerns as nontraditional students. The group moderator used a four-question outline to guide the group's discussions while encouraging participants to direct the topics. Participants were encouraged to comment on all responses provided by the other group members. Four sessions were held, with an average of eight participants per session. Each session lasted approximately 1.5 hours. The students indicated their overall positive perspective of the college; however, they expressed concerns regarding advisement, registration, and financial aid. Their goals were related more to attaining their degree and obtaining career counseling rather than participating in typical "college activities." The study findings replicated those of a previous study of evening students. The focus group approach was concluded to be both a valuable instructional tool and a useful source of information for the college's administrators. (MN)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A