Dr. Sandra Trejos, professor of economics at Clarion University, presented "Academic Performance and Pupils' Profile: Does Effort Truly Matter?" as the closing speaker of in the fall portion of the Faculty Author Series.
Trejos presented the background, methodology, and conclusions of her published research, co-authored with Dr. Gustavo Barboza, associate professor of administrative science at Clarion University. "I wanted to see the role of effort in achieving," she said. "In the challenge to
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| Dr. Sandra Trejos |
Using student information from her macroeconomics and statistics class, Trejos analyzed factors including, grade point average, SAT score, grade expectation, effort, hours worked, preferred learning style, class standing, non-business student, taking of a previous economics course, and even seating position in the classroom.
"Alternative specifications of student's performance are positively and robustly explained by the level of effort and GPA and/or SAT scores," concluded Trejos. "Based on a sample of students, my paper's findings indicate that effort is the most significant factor in determining students' performance."
She also cautioned that while her research was, "A first step toward a more inclusive perspective on explaining overall students' performance. Caution is needed in inferring causality and further research is pending."
Trejos received her master's and Ph.D degrees from Oklahoma State University and B.S. degree from University of Costa Rico.
The Faculty Author Series is funded through the Clarion University-Wide Faculty Development Committee's Presidential Advancement Award. For further information, contact pkolencik@clarion.edu.
The series will continue in 2010 with Melissa Kuntz, art, Jan. 22; Dr. Kevan Yenerall, political science, Feb. 10; and Dr. Greg Goodman, education, March 22.
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