Smith, Heather (2012) The Impact of Online Peer Mentoring on First Year Student Transition, Problem Solving Skills, and Academic Success. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Transition to higher education is a challenging responsibility, and first year students need support to facilitate a positive experience. Key concerns for first year students include a positive transition; good problem solving perceptions; and support from peers. This study examined relationships among student transition, problem-solving ability, and academic success. Student transition was measured using Lizzio’s (2006) Student Transition Scale (STS) utilising the Five Senses of Success model (connection, capability, purposefulness, resourcefulness, and academic culture). Problem-solving skills was measured by Beccaria and Machin’s (2011) Problem-Solving Inventory-12Item (PSI-12). It provides measures of problem-solving self efficacy, impulsive/haphazard problem-solving, planned/ rational problem-solving, and overwhelmed problem-solving. Academic success was measured using grade point average (GPA). The current study (N = 171) involved Foundation Psychology A students who had opportunity to receive online peer mentoring from 34 third year students at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), in Semester 1, 2012. Results indicated that Mentees achieved higher academic success, and adjusted to university better than non-Mentees. Mentees became more self-aware of their problem solving ability, and identified strategies to improve their overall university experience, including maximising opportunities for academic success. These findings enable USQ, and the wider educational community, to benefit by discovering optimum methods of retaining students through support by their peers.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology (Up to 30 Jun 2013) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Oct 2025 23:27 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Oct 2025 23:27 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | impact ; peer mentoring ; online peer mentoring ; digital peer mentoring ; student transition ; problem solving ; academic success ; PSI ; PSI-12 ; STS ; five sense of success ; GPA ; connectedness ; capability ; academic culture |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52768 |
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