Researcher examines the effects of learning communities on a college campus. in these communities, students live in a small dorm hall together, have one faculty advisor, attend a first-year seminar together, and participate in social activities together. after completing her study, the researcher finds that compared to students living in regular dorms or off-campus, students in these communities are less likely to engage in either underage drinking or cheat on assignments and tests, and have fewer disciplinary actions on their records. which sociological perspective best explains this finding?

social control theory

Explanation:

          Social control theory states that people's  commitments, relationships, norms, values and beliefs encourages people not to violet the law. Thus, if the moral codes of individuals are internalized and they are tied into and have the stake in the wider community of them, they will try to limit their propensity to commit any deviant acts.

           In the context, according to the findings of the researcher, the students who stayed in a small hall and take active part in social activities are less likely indulge in the activity that violates the law or is illegal. This is in accordance with the social control theory.