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An Exploration of Academic Help-Seeking among Postsecondary Students: Differences by Gender and Ethnicity

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Title: An Exploration of Academic Help-Seeking among Postsecondary Students: Differences by Gender and Ethnicity
Language: English
Authors: Stephanie Greenquist-Marlet, Linda Bol, Claire Consadine, Courtney Hill
Source: Journal of Postsecondary Student Success. 2026 5(2):56-84.
Availability: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 29
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Higher Education, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Help Seeking, Student Behavior, Sex, Race, Intention, Behavior Patterns, Student Interests, Student Motivation, Gender Differences, Racial Differences
ISSN: 2769-4879
2769-4887
Abstract: Students often struggle to employ effective learning and study strategies in postsecondary settings that challenge their academic success. These struggles can be amplified depending on student characteristics like gender and ethnicity. One way to improve their success is an awareness they may need help and how to most productively use this help. We sought to understand students' patterns of help-seeking behaviors as well as whether these patterns differed by gender and ethnicity. The researcher-developed Academic Help-Seeking Inventory (AHSI) was designed to measure academic help-seeking. Participants were 249 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at two East Coast public universities. An exploratory factor analysis supported five scales or constructs: (a) Inclination to Seek Help, (b) Positive Task Interest/Value, (c) Negative Task Interest/Value, (d) Monitoring Need for Help, and (e) Adaptive Recording. Students scored highest on the Positive Task Interest/Value scale followed by Inclination to Seek Help. In terms of demographic differences, we found that women scored higher on monitoring when to seek help. Low task interest/value were more likely to impede help-seeking among women and Black students. Finally, Black students were more inclined to seek help compared to White students.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502532
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: An Exploration of Academic Help-Seeking among Postsecondary Students: Differences by Gender and Ethnicity
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stephanie+Greenquist-Marlet%22">Stephanie Greenquist-Marlet</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Linda+Bol%22">Linda Bol</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Claire+Consadine%22">Claire Consadine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Courtney+Hill%22">Courtney Hill</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Postsecondary+Student+Success%22"><i>Journal of Postsecondary Student Success</i></searchLink>. 2026 5(2):56-84.
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  Data: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
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  Data: Students often struggle to employ effective learning and study strategies in postsecondary settings that challenge their academic success. These struggles can be amplified depending on student characteristics like gender and ethnicity. One way to improve their success is an awareness they may need help and how to most productively use this help. We sought to understand students' patterns of help-seeking behaviors as well as whether these patterns differed by gender and ethnicity. The researcher-developed Academic Help-Seeking Inventory (AHSI) was designed to measure academic help-seeking. Participants were 249 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at two East Coast public universities. An exploratory factor analysis supported five scales or constructs: (a) Inclination to Seek Help, (b) Positive Task Interest/Value, (c) Negative Task Interest/Value, (d) Monitoring Need for Help, and (e) Adaptive Recording. Students scored highest on the Positive Task Interest/Value scale followed by Inclination to Seek Help. In terms of demographic differences, we found that women scored higher on monitoring when to seek help. Low task interest/value were more likely to impede help-seeking among women and Black students. Finally, Black students were more inclined to seek help compared to White students.
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 56
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Help Seeking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Race
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      – SubjectFull: Intention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavior Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
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      – TitleFull: An Exploration of Academic Help-Seeking among Postsecondary Students: Differences by Gender and Ethnicity
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