Abstract

DINIZ, António M.  and  ALMEIDA, Leandro S.. Variables of the first half of college integration and change of major. Psicol. esc. educ. [online]. 2007, vol.11, n.2, pp. 201-210. ISSN 1413-8557.

This study concerned the relationship between academic and psychosocial variables of the first half of college integration (choice and admission to a major) and the Change of Major (CM). Bivariate analyses of data collected using a convenience sample of 375 freshman students showed that those who had changed major more frequently were those who: had lower Access Grades (AG) to Higher Education; were from majors in the field of Technological Resources (TR); and, gave less importance to Intrinsic Determinants (ID) in the choice of major (skills, interests). The latter variable was measured by the Escala de Determinantes da Escolha de Curso (EDEC) [Choice of Major Determinants Scale]. The variables above, as well as the other two dimensions of EDEC (Mediation Agents and Occupational Structure), also significantly discriminated students by gender. Then, we presume that gender is indirectly related to CM, through the mediation of AG, Field of Studies, and ID.

Keywords : Higher education; Change of major; Human sex differences.

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