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*pages 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 350, 352 were removed from text. / Most research on secondary school dropout has been cross-sectional, and this has made it difficult to know whether the differences observed between dropouts and persisters are antecedents or consequences of attrition. Furthermore, little is known about the causes of dropout among non-majority students such as native Indians. Investigators also have neglected to consider the utility of using theoretical frameworks that have proved useful in understanding various behaviours. This thesis was directed at learning which variables contribute to dropout among Native and nonNative students and at delineating combinations of variables that are useful predictors of enrollment status. The relative merits of the Ajzen-Fishbein model and a general expectancy-value approach also was of concern. To these ends, a longitudinal, multivariate investigation was undertaken. Information from school records and questionnaires was used to determine which factors distinguished students who had persisted from those who had discontinued 1 year and 3.7 years after the initial survey. The results revealed that dropout can be predicted with considerable accuracy even over several years. Intentions, absenteeism, grade average, and perceived value of education were shown to be the most important predictors. Information in school records enabled good prediction. Of the two models, the Ajzen-Fishbein framework showed the most promise. Although the data were consistent with Fishbein's conceptualization of how intentions are formed, it was shown that the model needs refinement in accounting for actual behaviour. On the basis of the findings from this and other research, suggestions are given for decreasing attrition. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Spatial interpolation methods were analyzed to determine the best fit for subsidence rates and to create a predictive surface for the lower Mississippi River Industrial corridor (LMRIC). Empirical Bayesian kriging, ordinary kriging, universal kriging, and Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation methods were applied to the 2004 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published Technical Report #50 dataset and cross validation methods were utilized to determine the accuracy of each method. The mean error and root mean square error were calculated for each interpolation method, then used to detect bias and compare the predicted value with the actual observation value. Cross-validation estimates are comparable for each method statistically and visually; however, the results indicate the empirical Bayesian kriging interpolation method is the most accurate of the methods using the lowest root mean square scores. Digital elevation models for the years 2025, 2050, and 2075 were developed based on the predictive surface of subsidence rates using the results from the empirical Bayesian kriging interpolation method. Results indicate that by 2025, 30.9% of landmass in the LMRIC will be below sea level, with 41.9% below sea level by 2050, and 53.5% by 2075. Subsidence rates in the LMRIC range from approximately 28 mm to 2 mm per year. Eighteen of the 153 industrial complexes located in the LMRIC are estimated to be below sea level by the year 2075.

<p> This paper is a descriptive analysis of differences in mortality rates among Canada's 23 Census Metropolitan Areas in 1976. · Life Table output focuses specifically on the life expectancies and standardized mortality rates as a means to identify CMA mortality differences. With mention to relevant cause-specific studies and use of regression analysis an attempt is made to shed some light on the identified mortality patterns. Major findings are (1) that mortality rate variation among CMAs reveals an east-west spatial arrangement - mortality rates in Atlantic, Quebec, and Northern Ontario CMAs are above the Canadian average while the mortality rates of Southern Ontario and Western CMAs are at or below the Canadian average; (2) that Victoria CMA is dominant among the CMAs in 1976 in terms of favourable mortality probability; (3) that male mortality rates are significantly higher than female mortality rates but tend to be positively related; (4) that health expenditures per capita have significant influence on health status but continued research is necessary to study and gain a fuller understanding of the effects of various explanatory variables on mortality. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

<p> Exercise programs designed for cardiac patients frequently report high dropout rates. Little is known about the reasons for this high rate of dropout; further, little is known about health behavior patterns including physical activity subsequent to graduation or dropout from exercise programs. Identification of reasons for dropout and the pattern of physical activity after participation in formal exercise rehabilitation would provide information regarding achievement and maintenance of treatment goals.</p> <p> Entry characteristics were determined for 84 male cardiac patients (45 compliers and 39 dropouts) from the McMaster Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Program. Follow-up information pertaining to areas of: a) health; b) employment, smoking, activity, and dietary status; c) reasons for joining the program; d) perceived benefits achieved; and e) factors contributing to compliance with or dropout from the exercise program was obtained from 63 subjects (41 compliers and 22 dropouts) who responded to a questionnaire by mail.</p> <p> The dropout rate at the end of the 6 month program was 46.4% (39 of 84 subjects) with one-half of all dropout occurring within the first 2 months of the 6 month program. Upon entry into the exercise program, a significantly greater proportion of dropouts (43.6%, n=17) than compliers (8.9%, n=4) were found to be regular smokers. Likewise, a significantly greater proportion of dropouts (82.1%, n=32) than compliers (55.6%, n=25) were found to be inactive in their leisure habits upon entry. Dropouts were also more likely to be blue collar workers (71.8%, n=28), and younger in age (x̅ age = 48.4 years) when compared to compliers (37.8%, n=17; x̅ age = 54.3 years) upon entry into the exercise program. Upon follow-up, compliers were significantly more likely to report active leisure habits (85.4%, n=35) than were responding dropouts (45.5%, n=10). Compliers were also significantly more likely to report moderate work activity levels upon follow-up (54.8%, n=17) compared to dropouts (22.2%, n=4). Reasons for compliance to and withdrawal from the exercise program provided by respondents centred around psychosocial and personal convenience categories.</p> <p> Although statistically significant, the greater follow-up activity levels noted among compliers in this study appear to be only temporary, short-term patterns which tend to diminish with time. It is suggested that compliance-improving strategies be developed through further study with the aim of encouraging the long-term maintenance of desired behavior change.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> This paper is an exploratory study of the intermetropolitan mortality variations in Canada for the years 1971 and 1976. A characterization of the mortality variations based on life expectancies is first performed. Through the use of BACKWARD regression, these variations are then explained by marital status and income variables. Major findings are as follows: (1) There is an east-west spatial pattern for mortality variation with the eastern Census Metropolitan Areas (C~~'s) and northern Ontario CMA's experiencing below average life expectancies and the western CMA's having the highest life expectancies. (2) Victoria B. C. has the longest life expectancy of all of the CMA's for both 1971 and 1976. (3) For females, the MARRIED and LOW INCOME (under $1,000) variables are statistically significant, with MARRIED negatively related and LOW INCOME positively related to mortality. (4) For males, the MARRIED and DIVORCED variables are statistically significant. MARRIED is negatively related to mortality, while a negative relationship was found for DIVORCED although this finding is doubted to be a true relationship. (5) The levels of explanation are not very high. To know whether the unexplained variation is mostly due to chance variation, future research should add more cities to the sample. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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