Activity (Process)

Methods of the Difference-Education Intervention Study

  • Independent variables: generational status (first-gen or continuing-gen students), intervention condition (difference-education or standard control)
  • Dependent variables: end-of-year GPA, end-of-year survey on understanding of different perspectives, frequency of seeking help from professors, psychosocial measures
  • Before the start of the semester, participants (college freshmen) attended an hour-long discussion panel with 8 senior student panelists who discussed their particular college experiences and provided advice on strategies for success
  • In the difference-education condition, panelists attributed elements of their experience to their backgrounds (e.g., "Because my parents didn't go to college, they weren't able to provide me with the advice I needed... I learned that I needed to rely on my adviser more than other students.")
  • In the standard control condition, panelists made no such link of their experiences and advice to their backgrounds

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Updated 2026-05-28

Tags

Definition of the Achievement Gap in Education

Psychology

Social Science

Empirical Science

Science

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook