Why has student engagement increased? A decomposition analysis

Abstract

In response to stakeholders' demands to improve the quality of undergraduate education, institutions have implemented a wide variety of reforms. It is unclear if these reforms have resulted in systemic improvement in educational outcomes for undergraduates. Using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, this study investigates how student engagement changed between the 2004 and 2010 academic years and the reasons for the changes over time. The results suggest that students have become more engaged and indicate that the quality of undergraduate education is improving nationally. Implications of these findings are discussed.