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Do Peers Affect Undergraduates' Decisions to Switch Majors?

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Title: Do Peers Affect Undergraduates' Decisions to Switch Majors?
Language: English
Authors: Pu, Shi, Yan, Yu, Zhang, Liang
Source: Educational Researcher. Nov 2021 50(8):516-526.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Peer Influence, Peer Groups, Friendship, Dormitories, Group Experience, Undergraduate Students, Student Characteristics, Majors (Students), Decision Making, Cohort Analysis, Degree Requirements, Foreign Countries, Interior Space
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.3102/0013189X211023514
ISSN: 0013-189X
Abstract: In this study, dormitory room and social group assignment data from a college are used to investigate peer effects on college students' decisions to switch majors. Results reveal strong evidence of such peer effects at both the room and the social group level. Most notably, at the room level, the dense concentration of same-major roommates deters students from switching majors; having one or two same-major roommates has no significant effect on major switching, indicating strong nonlinearity of peer effects at the room level. Such nonlinearity is not observed among social group members. Results also reveal evidence that students' choices of new majors are affected by peers' majors. Peers are more likely to choose the same destination majors than nonpeers. In choosing their new majors, students do not necessarily follow their peers indiscriminately. Their decisions seem to be influenced more by short-term academic requirements than by long-term job prospects. Finally, peer effects on major switching and major choices are stronger at the dormitory room level than at the social group level in most cases.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: EJ1317210
Database: ERIC
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
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  Data: In this study, dormitory room and social group assignment data from a college are used to investigate peer effects on college students' decisions to switch majors. Results reveal strong evidence of such peer effects at both the room and the social group level. Most notably, at the room level, the dense concentration of same-major roommates deters students from switching majors; having one or two same-major roommates has no significant effect on major switching, indicating strong nonlinearity of peer effects at the room level. Such nonlinearity is not observed among social group members. Results also reveal evidence that students' choices of new majors are affected by peers' majors. Peers are more likely to choose the same destination majors than nonpeers. In choosing their new majors, students do not necessarily follow their peers indiscriminately. Their decisions seem to be influenced more by short-term academic requirements than by long-term job prospects. Finally, peer effects on major switching and major choices are stronger at the dormitory room level than at the social group level in most cases.
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        Value: 10.3102/0013189X211023514
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 516
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Peer Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Friendship
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      – SubjectFull: Group Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Cohort Analysis
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      – SubjectFull: Degree Requirements
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Interior Space
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      – SubjectFull: China
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