Mapping Students Choices with Academic Performance in Higher Education with Reference to an Arts and Science College, India

Abstract

To ensure mobility and competitiveness, students in higher education have to opt for more elective courses beyond their specialization. The choice in academics is questioned, as is whether it is 100 percent implemented. This raises another question about the academic performance of the students pushed into a course. In this context, the study attempts to answer the following research question: whether choice affects the academic performance of both undergraduate and postgraduate students. A 75-year-established arts and sciences college with two decades of experience in a choice-based credit system was considered for the study. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire. Out of the total 351 final-year postgraduate students, 290 (83%) responded to the survey. From the total of 1388 final-year undergraduate students, 1122 (81%) of them responded to the survey. The Chi square test was applied to find the association between the elective choice and academic performance. The results reveal that there was no association between course preference and passing the course on the first attempt among the postgraduate students. Beyond their interests, they were dedicated to finishing their courses, signifying their academic responsibility. However, when undergraduate students are pushed into a course against their preference, they struggle to become comfortable with it and pass it on the first attempt.