First Generation

Believe in Firsts

Research Resources

Resources in Researching First-Generation Undergraduate Students

  • Affirming independence: Exploring mechanisms underlying a values affirmation intervention for first-generation students. Tibbetts, Y.; Harackiewicz, J. M.; Canning, E. A.; Boston, J. S.; P., Stacy J.; & Hyde, J. S. (2016). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110(5), pp. 635-659. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000049
  • Exploring Home- School Value Conflicts. Vasquez-Salgado, Y.; Greenfield, P. M.; & Burgos-Cienfuegos, R. (2015). Journal of Adolescent Research, 30(3), pp. 271–305. 
    https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558414561297
  • First generation college students: Understanding and improving the experience from recruitment to commencement. Ward, L.; Siegel, M. J.; & Davenport, Z. (2012). Jossey-Bass.
  • Limbo: Blue-collar roots, white-collar dreams. Lubrano, A. (2004). John Wiley and Sons.
  • Living–learning programs and first-generation college students’ academic and social transition to college. Inkelas, K. K.; Daver, Z. E.; Vogt, K. E.; & Leonard, J. B. (2007). Research in Higher Education, 48(4), pp. 403-434. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11162-006-9031
  • Movin’ on up (to college): First-generation college students’ experiences with family achievement guilt. Covarrubias, R. & Fryberg, S. (2015). Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21(3), pp. 420-429.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037844
  • A cultural mismatch: Independent cultural norms produce greater increases in cortisol and more negative emotions among first-generation college students. Nicole M. Stephens, Sarah S.M. Townsend, Hazel Rose Markus, L. Taylor Phillips (2012). Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(6), pp. 1389–1393. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2012.07.008
  • Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap: A Difference-Education Intervention Improves First- Generation Students’ Academic Performance and All Students’ College Transition. Nicole M. Stephens, MarYam G. Hamedani, Mesmin Destin. Psychological Science 2014, Vol. 25(4), pp. 943–953. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0956797613518349
  • Closing the social class achievement gap for first-generation students in undergraduate biology. Harackiewicz, J. M., Canning, E. A., Tibbetts, Y., Giffen, C. J., Blair, S. S., Rouse, D. I., & Hyde J. S. (2014). Journal of Educational Psychology, 106(2), pp. 375-389. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0034679
  • First- and second-generation college students: A comparison of their engagement and intellectual development. Pike, G. R., & Kuh, G. D. (2005). The Journal of Higher Education, 76(3), pp. 276-300. 
    https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fbe4/cb7f493bb12811c86a37744fcaf7e953d538.pdf
  • First generation college students: Characteristics, experiences, and cognitive development. Terenzini, P. T., Springer, L., Yaeger, P. M., Pascarella, E. T., & Nora, A. (1996). Research in Higher Education, 37, pp. 1–22.
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01680039?LI=true
  • First-Generation Students: Additional Evidence on College Experiences and Outcomes. Pascarella, E. T., Pierson, C. T., Wolniak, G. C., & Terenzini, P. T. (2004). The Journal of Higher Education, 75 (3), pp. 249-284.
  • First-Generation Students' Sense of Belonging, Mental Health, and Use of Counseling Services at Public Research Universities. Stebleton, M. J.; Soria, K. M.; & Huesman, R. L. (2014). Journal of College Counseling, 17(1), pp 6-20.
  • Helping First-Generation College Students Succeed. Shelton, C. (2011). Journal of Psychological Issues in Organizational Culture, 1(4), pp. 63-75.
  • Humble and hopeful: Welcoming first-generation poor and working-class students to college. Olfield, Kenneth (2007). About Campus, 11, pp. 2-12. 
    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/abc.21093.epdf
  • Moving Beyond Access: College Success for Low-Income First-Generation Students. Engle, J. & Tinto, V. (2008). The Pell Institute for the Student of Opportunity in Higher Education.
  • Multicultural learning communities: Vehicles for developing self-authorship in first-generation college students. Jehangir, R., Williams, R. D., & Pete, J. (2011). Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition, 23(1), pp. 53-73.
  • Still humble and hopeful: Two more recommendations on welcoming first-generation poor and working-class students to college. Olfield, Kenneth (2012). About Campus, 17, pp. 2-13. 
    http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/abc.21093/epdf
  • Students whose parents did not go to college: Postsecondary access, persistence, and attainment. Choy, S. P. (2001). National Center for Education Statistics.
  • The first-generation student experience: Implications for campus practice, and strategies for improving persistence and success. Davis, J. (2010). Stylus.
  • Unseen disadvantage: How American universities' focus on independence undermines the academic performance of first-generation college students. Stephens, N. M.; Fryberg, S. A.; Markus, H. R.; Johnson, C. S.; & Covarrubias, R. (2012). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(6), pp. 1178-1197. 
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0027143

Resources in Researching First-Generation Graduate Students

  • Exploring First Generation African American Graduate Students: Motivating Factors for Pursuing a Doctoral Degree. Adams, S. G. (2011). Theses and Dissertations.
  • Navigating the pipeline: How socio-cultural influences impact first-generation doctoral students. Holley, K. A., & Gardner, S. (2012). Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 5(2), 112-121.