University of the East - Caloocan

THE IMPACT OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ON THE COLLEGE

STUDENTS' SELECTION OF COLLEGE COURSE

A Research Proposal

Presented to

The Basic Education Department

University of the East Caloocan Campus

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for English 10

Submitted by

Anna Nicole Estoquia

Jean Christophe P. Alvarez

Jomeer Christian G. Bola

Kent Darren A. Arriego

Mikalea B. Mendez

Rain M. Guillermo

Rainna Rhie G. Mendoza

Rihana M. Rapiz
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Chapter 1 – The Problem and Its Background

Background of the Study----------------------------1

Theoretical Framework------------------------------2

Conceptual Framework------------------------------3

Statement of the Problem---------------------------4

Hypothesis of the Study-----------------------------5

Significance of the Study----------------------------5

Scope and Delimitation------------------------------7

Operational Definition of Variables-----------------8

 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

A student's college course predetermines their career and future profession,

alongside being the start of their journey to the real world. Thus, it is important that they

be able to pick a course that is suited to them and their abilities, this is in order for them

to be comfortable and be able to excel in their work. However, many students' college

course may be highly influenced by their family's socioeconomic status, and they may

have to adjust to their financial capabilities (i.e. an aspiring medical student choosing

accountancy over a medical course due to financial restraints.), as different college

courses may vary when it comes to tuition fee and the price of materials and such within

the course.

Due to this, many students may not be able to choose what they actually aspire

to be, but rather be forced to settle for a course that is more manageable given their

financial and socioeconomic status.

While a study from the International Journal of Educational Development (2022)

explores the topic of the Free Tuition Act and the advantage of students with higher

household income to be admitted into and be able to study in prestigious universities,

the current study focuses on the impact of the students’ socioeconomic status on their

choice of college course. The study may be a guide to colleges and universities on what

courses to prioritize if given limited resources.

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 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

One of the prominent theories that could help students pick their college course

whilst being impacted by their socioeconomic status is the “Decision Theory”. Decision

Theory is concerned with the reasoning underlying and agent’s choice (agent stands for

an entity, usually a person capable of deliberation and action) in this case, a student

picking a college course. In any case the decision theory is a theory of beliefs and

desires. As it is a theory of choice. Now one of the 2 main concepts of the Decision

Theory are preferences and prospects (meaning options),

For example: If a student picks College Course A over College B, meaning they

find College Course A to be more desirable than College Course B. Nevertheless, there

is room for argument on what preferences over options actually amount to, or in other

words, what actually factors into a student’s decision making if their preferences align

with their options, If a student has a high socioeconomic status, they can definitely

choose whichever college course/college they want to go to meaning multiple options, If

a student has a low socioeconomic status, chances are their options are far less. Whilst

the model of Hossler’s and Gallagher’s tackle more on college choice only, their model

consists of 3 different phases, though the first phase is mainly what this paper is

focused on, and that would be the Predisposition phase. The predisposition phase is a

developmental phase in which students determine whether or not they would like to

continue their education beyond high school. However certain background

characteristics appear to be correlated with college attendance and or college choice,

one of those characteristics is in fact SES (socioeconomic status), SES has a

cumulative effect on college enrolment plans. It is said that High SES students are more

likely to go to college than low SES students. The second stage of this modal is called

the search phase, searching for the

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right characteristics to consider and other college alternatives that a student can pick.

While the third stage is that of choice, which is to put it simply, deciding what college a

student will attend.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
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With Decision Theory, the 2 factors/ideas that go into using this theory are the options

and the preferences, so as stated before the preferences can help with choosing the

college course, but as stated earlier the agent’s concerns can also factor in picking the

decision, in this case it’s the socioeconomic status. The phases of Hossler’s and

Gallagher’s model, specifically the first phase, which is if the student is thinking if they

should continue their education or not, and a lot of background characteristics can

factor into that, one of them would be the SES (socioeconomic status) of the student.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Generally, the aim of the study is to determine the impact of socioeconomic

status on the college student's selection of college course.

Particularly, the study aims to answer the following:

1. What is the impact of socioeconomic status on the college student's

selection of college course in the following:

1.1 Career

1.2 Future Profession

2. How does socioeconomic status associated by financial restraints limits

college students to pursue their college courses?

3. How significant is having enough resources to support and guide college

students in prioritizing what college course suits them.?

4. What are the common factors of socioeconomic status influences college

students in determining their college courses?

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HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

Ho1 - There is no significant impact of socioeconomic status on the college

students’ selection of college course

Ho2 - There is a significant impact of socioeconomic status on the college

students’ selection of college course

Ho3 - There is a significant impact of having enough resources to support

and guide college students in prioritizing what college courses suits them

Ho4 - There is a significant factor of socioeconomic status that influences

college students in determining their college courses

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Understanding many variables that influence educational choices and experiences is

crucial to understanding the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on college students'

course selection. This information may be helpful in the development of inclusive and

equitable policies and practices among institutions, educators, and legislators,

eventually leading to a more accessible and equitable learning environment.

Legislators

 The development of educational policies and initiatives that adapt to the

standards of students from a range of backgrounds can be affected by the

insights gained by understanding the impact of SES. This could include

academic assistance services specific to certain socioeconomic groups,

mentorship programs, or financial help.

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Department of Education

 Knowing how socioeconomic status (SES) affects college course choices may

help educational institutions to better accommodate students from

underprivileged backgrounds. This may involve offering these students extra

resources, guidance or mentorship to assist them go through college and choose

their academic routes.

Educators

 Understanding the impacts of socioeconomic status on course options could help

educators in identifying and addressing any difficulties experienced by students

from different socioeconomic situations. This information can help guarantee that

all students have equal opportunities by supporting the development of relevant

interventions, support networks, and financial aid initiatives.

Students

 By studying the influence of SES on college course selection, educators and

students can make more informed decisions about their academic paths. This

understanding can help students choose courses that align with their interests,

skills, and career goals, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Future Researchers

 Understanding how SES affects college course decisions is important for

improving inclusion and equity in higher education. Regardless of a student's

background, we can all benefit from a more equal and accessible educational

system if we recognize and address the influence of socioeconomic variables on

students' decisions.
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SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study's scope involves identifying certain aspects of socioeconomic status

(SES) in connection to college students' course selection. This involves looking at

parental income, education level, family wealth, and employment as key SES drivers.

Demographic information on college students will be published, including age, gender,

ethnicity, and geographical location. Furthermore, the research will examine college

courses or academic programs, with a focus on the distinctions between STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and humanities, as well as

specific degrees within these categories. A timeframe for data collection and analysis

will also be established.

The study's limitations include its emphasis on parental income as a SES

component while disregarding other variables such as family assets or parental

employment.

The study will concentrate on four-year colleges and universities, not community

colleges or vocational schools. Personal interests and academic performance may

impact course selection, but they will be excluded from the scope of the research.

Furthermore, rather than adopting a global perspective, the geographic area will be

restricted to a certain region or country.

By defining the scope and limitations, researchers may conduct a targeted

assessment of the influence of SES on college students' course choices, yielding

meaningful results.
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OPERATIONAL TABLE OF VARIABLES

The Variables relevant to the study will be operationally defined in this study to

provide a more clear, understandable, and unified interpretation of the study.

Socioeconomic Status. Refers to the total income of the family of a student.

College. The school the student chooses to attend during their years in college.

College Course. The course the student chooses to take during their years in

college.

Tuition Fee. Refers to the total cost of the school year in the school the student

chooses to attend.