Influences of the normative environment of peer groups on community college students' perceptions of growth and development

Grounded in Weidman's (1989a) socialization model and Pace's (1979b) theoretical conception of "quality of effort," this study examines the effects of peer groups on community college students perceptions of general educational gains. Peer groups were defined as the aggregate student body within an institution. The sample consisted of a national sample of community college students who had responded to the Community College Student Experiences Questionnaire. Given the nested structure of the data, hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine institutional- and student-level effects. Dominant influences on students' perceived gains were from the quality of effort exerted by students. Aggregates of individual-level measures were used as indicators of the peer environment and had little impact on individual-level estimates.