Nov 6, 2009

A new study in Sociology of Education has found that when a teacher mentors a disadvantaged student, the student’s odds of attending college nearly doubles. For all teen students, having an adult mentor means a 50 percent greater likelihood of attending college.

The study’s lead author is Lance Erickson, now a sociology professor at Brigham Young University and formerly a CPC Predoctoral Trainee. Steve McDonald, now a sociology professor at North Carolina State University and formerly a CPC Postdoctoral Scholar, is the study’s co-author. CPC Faculty Fellow Glen Elder is also a co-author.

Science Daily published a story on the research, which used data from more than 14,000 adolescents who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a CPC project.

“Benefit Of A Mentor: Disadvantaged Teens Twice As Likely To Attend College,” (Science Daily, November 5, 2009).

An excerpt from the story:
“Potential is sometimes squashed by the social environment, and the data show that mentors can overcome those forces,” said Lance Erickson, a sociology professor at Brigham Young University and the study’s lead author.
…
“Youth who are most likely to need mentors are least likely to have them,” McDonald said.

Read the entire story:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104161837.htm

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