Analysis

There are numerous opportunities for further research into this area that the author of the article doesn't touch on. A similar study that takes place at multiple campuses and that also breaks down specific demographics -- race, gender, age, etc. -- could help to identify populations that are more prone to failure in their first year of college, and might suggest interventions specifically designed for these students just as the current study led to the design of specific interventions. This is just one of many areas in which further research could occur. This would also help to make this study more valid; the fact that it took place at one single university and is thus highly culturally and environmentally specific limits significantly the reliability and the generalizability of this study's conclusions.

In addition, the author...

It is unclear after reading the published results of the study what the benefits in terms of accuracy, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness this data collection method had. There are, however, some significant implications that can be traced from this study's findings. The fact that the author was able to fairly definitively diagnose specific issues that students were facing based on this study, which was certainly carefully designed but which was also implemented rather quickly and over a short-term, suggests that these problems should be readily apparent on the surface of things. This suggests that certain major changes to the higher education system in terms of supporting its students are needed.