Chung, Amanda Higher Expectations in Higher Education? The Stereotype Content Model and Perceptions of Non-traditional Students. 2025. Radford University, Dissertation. Radford University Scholars' Repository.
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Abstract
Universities and colleges across the country have turned to recruiting non-traditional aged students amid declining attendance rates. If universities wish to create a welcoming environment for their new non-traditional students to encourage retention and graduation, it is imperative to assess for levels of ageism (prejudice or discrimination based on age) and to design appropriate interventions to address the ageism that may impact the success and retention of these students. Based on previous studies, ageism can be one factor that is negatively impacting non-traditional students. Yet to date, only one study about ageism from traditional college students towards their established adult peers has been conducted. The purpose of the current study was to fill the research gap and examine traditional students’ age-related attitudes toward their non-traditional peers using the Stereotype Content Model. Traditional students were randomly assigned to one of a series of vignettes to look at their perceptions around gender and age about their non-traditional classroom peers. The hypotheses in this study were not supported. This suggests that traditional-aged students do not view non-traditional aged students in ageist ways (i.e., less competent, more warm). Future studies may utilize a modified version of the current vignettes or examine non-traditional aged students’ sense of belonging. Keywords: ageism, non-traditional students, established adults, Stereotype Content Theory
| Item Type: | Dissertation |
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| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Divisions: | Radford University > College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences > Department of Psychology |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Dec 2025 06:35 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Dec 2025 06:35 |
| URI: | http://wagner.radford.edu/id/eprint/1280 |
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