Abstract:

Research in the Netherlands on the success of students in higher education is highly influenced by Tinto’s integration theory. This paper is part of a broader PhD research, in which I investigate the possible influence of the use of social media (Facebook) by students. By comparing various studies conducted in line with the tradition of the integration theory, this paper focuses on a limited amount of variables. By taking the best-proven variables to represent satisfaction, this research measures and test these variables, derived from Tinto’s theory as one latent variable. The internal consistency is tested by factor analysis and the reliability is measured with Cronbach’s alpha and Guttman’s lambda-2. All data is collected by digital surveys among the first year students in 2011-2012 at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences with a limited enrollment of 904.

Ultimately, this paper provides insight into the potential use of a simplified version of the integration theory and to include, in later study, the role of social media as a factor of integration in education. In addition, it will open the possibility to create a model for student success, which will have a better fit with the present generation of students in the developed world.

Keywords:

Student success, social media, integration, higher education.