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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

College majors; College students--Vocational guidance; Counseling in higher education;

Abstract

This integrative review studied the research related to undecided college students. The purposes of this paper were to examine the literature on undecided students, clarify common findings, reveal problematic areas, and suggest future areas of research. In order to accomplish this, the literature was divided into three main categories: differences and similarities between undecided and decided students, types of undecided students, and programs for undecided students. The studies relating to differences and similarities between undecided and decided students were organized according to the types of results they achieved, either evidence of differences or evidence of similarities. This body of literature yielded conflicting results. Due to problems within this literature, only specific samples of undecided and decided students have proven to be different. These results should not be generalized to the entire population of undecided college students. Literature discussing types of undecided students was divided according to experimental studies and material based on theories and experiences. Because types of undecided students have been based on many different variables, this work cannot be organized into one system of undecided student types. Divided according to individual programs, workshops and courses, advising centers, and counseling approaches, the literature describing programs and services for undecided students was inventoried and discussed. The multiplicity of programs for these students was attributed to differences in institutions of higher education and differences in the needs of undecided students. Suggestions for future research relating to differences and similarities between undecided and decided students included the use of more comprehensive research designs. An additional recommendation in this area was to included both freshmen and upper class students. Further study regarding types of undecided students could develop the areas of identification and programming suggested in the literature. An important research area pertaining to undecided students is that of programming; both quantitative and qualitative studies are needed in order to share the assistance that can be provided for undecided students. Additional topic suggestions include the social ramifications of being an undecided college student and the effects of advisors' abilities and philosophies on the services they provide to undecided students.

Year of Submission

1993

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Department of Educational Administration and Counseling

First Advisor

Michael D. Waggoner

Second Advisor

Florence Guido-DiBrito

Third Advisor

Jack Kimball

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

1993

Object Description

1 PDF file (70 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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