The Relation between College Resources and Learning Outcomes: Considering the Mediating Effects of Student Engagement

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between college resources and learning outcomes through the mediation of student engagement. Based on data collected from 430 college students and 122 faculties spread across the Coastal Region of Kenya, we used the structural equation model approach to test a model that hypothesised the relation between college resources and learning outcomes. Using student engagement as a parameter, statistical analyses demonstrated that college resources have a significant and indirect effect on student learning outcomes. The regression coefficient of college resources on student learning outcomes is reduced from 0.62 to 0.01 and is insignificant when student engagement is added to the model. The results reveal that the effects of college resources should be evaluated in terms of the degree to which they increase student engagement. Implications for practice and further research directions are also discussed.