Grade Point Average, among working and non-working students

Group 4● Bre Patroske● Marcello Gill● Nga Wargin

IntroductionDoes working while taking college courses affect your GPA? If so, does the number of hours you work affect your GPA?

Predictions:Fewer hours worked lead to higher GPA

Methods1. Participants and Data Collection

• To hand out surveys to 30 students randomly selected on campus.

• Students were asked 6 questions including if they worked and their GPA.

• For those who work, they were asked to answer further questions:➔ How many hours per week do you work?➔ Are you working on campus or off campus?➔ What is your reason for working?➔ What is your major?➔ What is your job?➔ Do you think working affects how much you study?➔ If you didn't work, do you think you would study more than you

do now?

Methods (cont.)

2. Data Analysis

• Using convenience sampling

• Using quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (written answers/descriptions) data

- Quantitative data: Using spreadsheet program to calculate the average and the percentage

- Qualitative data: Putting responses into categories

Results (cont.)

Results (cont.)

Type GPA average

Working students

3.3

Non-working students

3.4

Results (cont.)

GPA How many students Number of hours worked

2.1 - 2.6 2 30 or greater

2.7 - 3.2 6 10 -19

3.3 - 3.8 9 20- 29

GPA vs number of hours worked

● Working 30 or more hours per week likely affects students’ GPA● Part-time jobs can help raise students’ GPA

Interview Questions:

1. What is your reason for working

2. What is your major?

3. What is your job?

4. Is your job on or off campus?

5. Do you think work affects how much you study?

6. If you didn't work, do you think you would study more?

Interview Responses:

Response 1: Response 2: Response 3:

1.Experience/Money 1. Pay for tuition 1.Money

2.Information Technology 2. Finance/Business 2. Undecided

3. Service Administrator 3. Waitress 3. Clerical Assistant/ Research Analyst

4. On 4. Off 4. On

5. No 5. Yes 5. No

6. Yes 6. Yes 6. No

Conclusion

• There a relationship between the number of hours worked and a student’s GPA

➔ Students who worked more than 10 hours a week had a slightly higher probability of getting better grades.

➔ No significant difference between working and non-working students in their GPAs even though working students’ GPAs are lower than that of the non-working.

• Employment has some kind of impact on academic achievement?

➔ Positive?

➔ Negative?

Conclusion (cont.)

Errors may affect the survey results:

• The GPAs were self reported. Having an official report could have removed this error.

• The small group participants might affect the transferability of the qualitative research results.

Some suggestions for future research:

• Larger sample size

• Make sure GPA reported is true

• Several different aspects of a student’s life could affect their GPA (activities, responsibilities...etc)

Thank you!