Lit review 4

In the research analysis “Time and money explain social class differences in students social integration at university”. They used a self survey report system that was conducted online with students from a university in Australia and the United states. This study was focused on the socioeconomic status of students and how it had effected there social integration during school. Social integration is the way a person performs in social settings, weather they be interacting a lot or isolating themselves from social settings. Being social in college “leads to better learning, cognitive growth, critical thinking, and personal and moral development”(Rubin). Which are vital to a persons health and wellness. Without the means to access these social skills there can be issues. Many students face this burden due to the fact that “students' concerns about finances are negatively related to their sense of belonging and contact with other students”(Rubin) Often times, money can be a deciding factor on whether or not you are putting yourself out there. More times than not, this study found that students that are working class often are commuters or need to have a job while in school which limits social interactions. This study found that no matter what “regardless of time spent on campus, social integration increases as time spent traveling to university decreases.” (Rubin). But this cant be an option for everyone especially when socioeconomic statuses weigh in. Socioeconomic status is where a person and or family resides in reference to income. This can really be a big determiner of a students social interactions in university. In conclusion of this paper it was found that “working-class students tended to be less satisfied with their finances and, consequently, less socially integrated at university.” (Rubin). In the paper they used the term time poor. From what I understand the term time poor is the idea that you do not have enough wealth to put the effort into anything else than education and making money. All things like social interaction are irrelevant when you are time poor because you only have 24 hours in a day to do the most crucial things first. Many individuals do not realize that social interactions should be considered crucial, because in order to function as a person you need those moments of laughter and friendship, and at the least just interaction with university life. 

Mark Rubin is the author of this article, who is a social psychologist. He is an expert in the field of social group processes. He makes a great connection with this topic due to his experience in the social aspects of individuals. His researches on college students social integration shows a greater understanding of how important social interaction is to the development and success of a college student.