The Impact of Knowledge and Social Capital on the Perception of Staying Local for Rural High School Juniors

The purpose of this mixed-methods action research study was to understand how a knowledge-building intervention changes the perception of rural high school juniors on the perception of staying local for college after high school. This study also investigates the ways in which participants used their social capital to begin to change the stigma of staying local for college. The intervention in this study was conducted at a public high school over 5 weeks with 21 high school juniors. College choice models, Social Influence Theory, and social capital theory framed the intervention. After the intervention, the scores for participants’ knowledge of the local university doubled on average, and every participant reported an increase in perception of the local rural university as a college choice for themselves or their peers. Participants reported a willingness to recommend the university to their peers. For students to make informed decisions about college choice, they must have adequate and accurate information. Research-based, targeted sessions delivered by dynamic college representatives or student ambassadors may increase knowledge and perception.