Experimental Construct Validity of the Outcomes of Study Skills Training and Career Counseling as Treatments for the Retention of At‐Risk Students

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Abstract
The authors evaluated the separate and combined effects of study skills training and career counseling on student retention. Participants who were at high risk for dropping out of college were randomly assigned to one of four treatment or control conditions. The study‐skills‐alone treatment had a significant impact on retention; all of these participants continued their enrollment in the following two semesters. Career‐counseling‐alone and a combined (study skills plus career counseling) treatment did not register significant effects. Participants who received the study‐skills‐alone treatment also achieved significantly greater academic success; 88% had grade point averages (GPAs) equal to or greater than 2.0, whereas most other treatment and control participants had GPAs lower than 2.0 and were placed on academic probation. Issues relevant to the construct validity of these changes are discussed.

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