Formation of Social Capital for Community College Students: A Second-Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Abstract

Objective: This quantitative study constructed a statistical model to measure family social capital and college social capital among community college students. The authors also examined influences of these two types of social capital constructs on degree aspiration. Method: This study utilized the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Student Success Literacy Survey (SSSL) to collect data in all 15 community college districts in Iowa. With more than 5,000 responses, the authors conducted descriptive analysis, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results: College social capital was measured by three latent variables such as interaction with advisors, interaction with faculty members, and transfer capital. The three latent variables were further measured by 14 survey items. Family social capital was measured by six survey items that described parent–child interaction in high school. The SEM results indicated that college social capital had stronger direct influences on degree aspiration compared with family social capital. The impact of family social capital was delivered through the mediation of college social capital. Contributions: Findings contributed to the literature by emphasizing the important role of institutional agents in promoting degree aspiration. Intervention programs should be implemented to encourage interactions between institutional agents and underrepresented and disadvantaged students.