WRITING & EXCEL

Problem Statement

​

How has COVID-19 impacted CWU students?

​

Methods and Procedures

 

A survey was distributed to CWU students which gathered data about the impact of COVID-19 on their learning experience. The survey was distributed electronically, and only CWU students were surveyed. The data was gathered entirely during the month of May, and 137 completed surveys were used for this study.

​

Review of Related Literature

​

According to Gray, R., Vitak, J., Easton, E. W., & Ellison, N. B. (2013) students are not only attending college to earn a degree but to experience living on their own for the first time. The socialization aspect has evolved over time and now includes social media along with other elements such as residence halls and student groups. The use of social media centers around connecting with peers and being able to keep in touch at any time. Platforms such as Facebook have started to be used for students to connect for academic purposes as well. This study has taken a closer look at how technology and social media platforms affect the transition to college. 

​

The first research question looked at in the study is “What is the relationship between race/ethnicity and social adjustment to college?” (Gray, et al., 2013 pg. 4). The authors have looked at this to examine how first-generation college students, students with various social capital, and students with different personal characteristics all vary in their adaptation to college. Having close relationships and high social capital can provide resources emotionally during the transition to college, which has proven to be critical in the first year at a university. Different areas of social interaction are evaluated to see how they impact the retention and persistence of students. These include living on campus and having support systems at school.

​

The findings of the study show no major patterns or differences when comparing the social transition of first-generation or minority to non-minority students. The total number of friends on Facebook, as well as the use of Facebook, did not show any impact on social adjustments. The number of Facebook friends at the college did support a positive social adjustment (Gray, et al., 2013 pg. 16-17).