A Social Exchange Perspective on Student Retention and University Support Intentions

Abstract:Students' perceptions of their social exchange relationships (perceived institutional support, psychological contract fulfillment, and perceived institutional obstruction) with the university will have implications for student retention and their intention to donate resources (time and money) to the university following graduation. These relationships are hypothesized to be mediated through students' affective commitment to the university. A sample of 468 students from undergraduate schools of business at universities located in the eastern United States was used to test hypotheses using structural equation modeling. In general, social exchange variables predicted exit intentions and university support intentions. These relationships were mediated by affective commitment. Alternative models were also analyzed. Implications, limitations, and future research are also discussed in the paper.