I liked this method of defining independent variables because in the past I summarized a paper which did not separate the levels of parent education and I was asked whether other studies looked at different levels of parent education, such as associates degree or bachelors degree. This study does separate parent education level to moderate and high. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- The sample came from five community colleges in five different states. They randomly selected 144 students from the community colleges. 
- Independent variables: comparing first-generation students with all other college students.  “Other students” were only those who had both parents with college degrees (not those with just one parent with a degree). 
- In this “other college student” category, they further divided it into levels of “high” and “moderate” levels of postsecondary education. 
- Therefore, the independent variable "other college students" was split into 2 groups— one with students whose parents had both completed a bachelor’s or above (high education level) , and the second with one or more parents having completed at least some college, but no more than one parent with a bachelor’s degree or above (moderate education level). 
-  The other variable was students with parents having no more than a high school degree (first-generation). 

Learn Before

Related