An Analysis of Academic Performance: Could Family Income and Medium of Instruction Be Determinants?

Year 2013, Volume: 19 Issue: 19, - , 01.06.2013

Seyit Cilasun

Abstract

Analyses of the determinants of college grades have a long history and an extensive literature. However, there are not enough studies in this area for developing countries. In this paper, we tried to investigate the factors that could affect the Cumulative Grade points Average (CGPA) of first-year management students at Atilim University, particularly the family income and the medium language of instruction. We gave surveys to first year students and asked questions regarding educational attainment of the family, income, gender, age, university entrance score, high school average grade and the department of the student (whether they are in Management in English department or Management in Turkish department). Using data regarding the information obtained from the surveys, we have estimated our linearly formed model. According to the results, while family income has a negative effect on CGPA, university entrance score positively affects the CGPA. On the other hand, education language is not found as a determinant of academic performance.

Keywords

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