Student intention to drop out is a concern for higher education institutions as well for their students. Students with the intention to drop out may eventually drop out and contribute towards the already high dropout rates, which are causing economic damage. Students leaving their institution have vast financial consequences for their institution, as institutions obtain grants from the government according to their success rates. Although previous research has been conducted on students’ intention to drop out, it is limited, especially when looking at possible predictors that are specific to the South African context. This study contributes towards the gap in research regarding the possible predictors of student intention to drop out. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the possible predictors of student intention to drop out according to the literature; 2) determine if self-evaluation traits (self-esteem and self-efficacy) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 3) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 4) determine if social support (social support from parents and general social support) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; and 5) determine if career decision-making difficulties are significant predictors of student intention to drop out. A non-probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate possible predictors of career student intention to drop out in a sample of university students. Student intention to drop out was measured by one item consisting of two categories: I have no intention to drop out (n = 501), and I have an intention to drop out (n = 280). These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The variables included in the final model predicted between 13% (Cox and Snell) and 18% (Nagelkerke) of the variance in intention to drop out. The results of this study suggest that self-esteem had an influence on student intention to drop out. Furthermore, it was found that cynicism and dedication have a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Lastly, lack of information about ways to obtain information also indicated a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Thus, it may be concluded that self-esteem, burnout and engagement and lack of information about ways of obtaining information have an influence on students’ intention to drop out. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Student intention to drop out is a concern for higher education institutions as well for their students. Students with the intention to drop out may eventually drop out and contribute towards the already high dropout rates, which are causing economic damage. Students leaving their institution have vast financial consequences for their institution, as institutions obtain grants from the government according to their success rates. Although previous research has been conducted on students’ intention to drop out, it is limited, especially when looking at possible predictors that are specific to the South African context. This study contributes towards the gap in research regarding the possible predictors of student intention to drop out. The objectives of this study were to 1) conceptualise the possible predictors of student intention to drop out according to the literature; 2) determine if self-evaluation traits (self-esteem and self-efficacy) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 3) determine if student burnout and student engagement are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; 4) determine if social support (social support from parents and general social support) are significant predictors of student intention to drop out; and 5) determine if career decision-making difficulties are significant predictors of student intention to drop out. A non-probability quota sample (N = 782) was used to investigate possible predictors of career student intention to drop out in a sample of university students. Student intention to drop out was measured by one item consisting of two categories: I have no intention to drop out (n = 501), and I have an intention to drop out (n = 280). These two groups were enclosed as a dependent variable in the logistic regression. The variables included in the final model predicted between 13% (Cox and Snell) and 18% (Nagelkerke) of the variance in intention to drop out. The results of this study suggest that self-esteem had an influence on student intention to drop out. Furthermore, it was found that cynicism and dedication have a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Lastly, lack of information about ways to obtain information also indicated a significant relationship with student intention to drop out. Thus, it may be concluded that self-esteem, burnout and engagement and lack of information about ways of obtaining information have an influence on students’ intention to drop out. Recommendations were made for practice as well as for future research. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Syftet med studien var att undersöka de direkta och indirekta interaktionseffekterna mellan upplevt motivationsklimat, målorienteringar, upplevd kompetens och intention till avhopp bland tjejer inom ungdomsfotbollen. Rekryteringen skedde via att icke slumpmässigt tillgänglighetsurval, där data samlades in via enkäter som delades ut fysiskt. Studien var en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie där 157 ungdomsspelande tjejer inom fotboll, i åldrarna 15-19 år (M=16,35, SD=1,40), deltog. Direkta och indirekta interaktionseffekter mellan studiens variabler utvärderades genom en neutral nätverksanalys. Resultatet visade att intention till avhopp var den mest centrerade noden i nätverket och hade flest direkta kopplingar till de övriga noderna. Nätverkets starkaste interaktion mellan intention till avhopp och de övriga noderna var framförallt negativa interaktioner med upplevt uppgiftklimat samt upplevd kompetens. Övriga framträdande direkta kopplingar i nätverket var negativa interaktioner mellan upplevt uppgiftklimat samt upplevt prestationsklimat, samt en positiv interaktion mellan egoorientering och upplevd kompetens. Resultatet i studien förväntas bidra till ökad kunskap innefattande hur centrala interpersonella samt miljömässiga faktorer inom tjejungdomsfotboll samvarierar tillsammans, samt tjejers intention till avhopp. Denna kunskap är av praktisk användbarhet för tränare, föreningar och förbund i deras arbete med att utveckla riktlinjer och strategier som syftar till att bibehålla fler tjejer inom ungdomsfotbollen. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between perceived motivational climates, goal orientations, perceived competence, and females intention to drop out of youth soccer. Recruitment took place via non-random availability sampling, where data were collected via questionnaires that were distributed physically. The study was a quantitative cross-sectional study in which 157 youth playing girls in soccer, aged 15-19 years (M=16.35, SD=1.40), participated. The dara were submitted to a neural network analysis to evaluate the strength and structure of the direct and indirect interactions between study variables. The result showed that intention to drop out was the most central node in the network and had the most direct connections to the other nodes. The network's strongest interaction between intention to drop out and the other nodes were primarily negative interactions with perceived task climate and perceived competence. Other prominent direct connections in the network were negative interactions between perceived task climate and perceived performance climate, as well as a positive interaction between ego orientation and perceived competence. The results of the study are expected to contribute to increased knowledge including how central interpersonal and environmental factors within youth female soccer co-vary together, as well as young females intention to drop out. This knowledge is of practical utility to coaches, associations and federations in their work to develop guidelines and strategies aimed at retaining more girls in youth football.