Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1982. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-66).

Since Union School is rural, located about ten miles from Live Oak, and also a comparatively small elementary school, it has been under consideration four times for consolidation by the Suwannee County Board of Public Instruction upon the recommendation of the county school superintendent during the writer's four years as principal of the aforesaid school. / Typescript. / "August, 1953." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts." / Advisor: Virgil E. Strickland, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 41).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xvii, 319 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 245-253).

Withdrawal from a program of studies can have negative consequences that extend beyond those that directly affect the dropouts. Beyond the lack of employment related skills and the impact that dropping out may have on students' confidence in their ability as learners, attrition also has an effect on the educational institute and sponsoring agencies. For example, program attrition leaves the training provider with empty seats but no corresponding reduction in training costs and the sponsoring agencies with a limited return on their training investments. This study examined attrition in short-term vocational programs to determine if factors from research on other postsecondary populations are applicable to these kinds of students. A formula was also developed to predict, early in the program, which students are most likely to withdraw. A review of the research confirmed that what is known about factors related to attrition for students in short-term vocational programs is limited. This necessitated a "borrowing" of factors from research directed at high school students and those in adult and higher education programs. By means of a mailed questionnaire, and using institute records, data were collected for those factors relevant to the population and program under study. These factors were divided into those students brought with them and those they experienced after they began their training. Of the 36 pre-entry factors studied, 12 produced statistically significant relationships when compared to persistence/withdrawal. The significant factors included high school graduation; test scores on reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, reference skills, math computation, math concepts and applications, and combined reading and combined math scores; mean differences in age; the student's socioeconomic status; certainty of program choice; and locus of control as related to high school persistence/withdrawal. Of those categorized as postentry, 10 of the 28 factors produced statistically significant relationships when compared to the indicator variable. These factors were enough study time, study time compared to others, hours per week at PVI, tests passed per attempt, tests exceeded per attempt, feeling that friends had gained from the program, estimation of program success, financial concern, agency sponsorship, and the use of Training Consultants. Combining the statistically significant factors using multiple regression analysis produced a prediction formula which included tests passed per attempt, combined math scores, study time compared, age, and feeling that friends had gained from the program. Conclusions based upon the results of the study centered around the application of attrition factors from the study of other populations and the utility of prediction for practitioners. In essence, the researcher believes it is inappropriate to make assumptions regarding attrition by short-term vocational students based upon research findings from other populations. In addition, even though the findings which characterized persisters as "good students" indicate that attrition rates may be reduced by either restricting admission by students who do not fit the profile or by providing these students with additional support, the amount of variance accounted for (16 percent) based upon the results of the multiple regression analysis suggest caution be used in making any decision. The researcher concludes by recommending that future studies examine attrition by using a variety of research methods in an attempt to clarify which factors are related to student attrition. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

No description available.

The problem of this study was the differentiation of high schools in a metropolitan school district from the standpoint of the measures taken to prevent student dropouts.

The purpose of this study was to determine if data routinely collected during the kindergarten year and at entry into first grade could be used to predict whether a child would be perceived as successful or not successful by the end of first grade. The need for immediate continued research on this topic was established through the review of literature, which highlighted the extent of the at-risk problem both locally and nationally. The growing number of at-risk students combined with the minimal impact of the educational programs mandates the need to identify these students in time to prevent school failure. However, clear identification procedures are not currently available and previous studies have raised substantial questions regarding the accuracy of early identification procedures. The presenting problem of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a set of predictor variables, and then to analyze these findings as to whether or not they were accurate enough for use as an initial identification process for subsequent classes. The primary research approach of this study was a longitudinal data collection and correlational analysis, with discriminant analysis techniques used to determine predictive accuracy. The study was limited to data on the class of 2001 from two elementary schools within the Washougal School District. The data collected and the subsequent analysis were used to answer six exploratory research questions. No hypothesis was proposed. This study used ratings and scores obtained from the administration of the Preschool Screening system, kindergarten teacher ratings, the School Success Rating Scale, and the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Readiness Tests as predictor variables. Criterion measures of school success/failure were: placement into special programs or grade retention, and end-of-first-grade evaluations of individual student success (report cards, teacher ratings, Gates-MacGinitie Reading Achievement, and the School Success Ratings Scale). The demographic variables of gender, age, parent marital status, and eligibility for free or reduced lunch were analyzed for their potential to exceed or enhance the accuracy of the predictor variables. Three types of measurement were defined and required in order for a predictor or predictor combination to be considered adequate for use in an identification process. These were overall accuracy, criterion sensitivity and specificity accuracy, and prediction sensitivity and specificity accuracy. An 80 percent accuracy level was desired on all three types of measurement. Findings of this study indicated that no single or combination of predictor, and/or demographic variables produced all three desired levels of accuracy. Various combinations of the predictor and demographic variables produced overall accuracy rates exceeding 80 percent for each of the criterion variables. Criterion measured sensitivity and specificity were found to be adequate for use in the prediction of at-risk students. Prediction measured specificity was also found to be highly accurate. Prediction sensitivity, however, was below the desired 80 percent level, indicating that the predictor variables over identify at-risk students. It was concluded that the predictor variables could be used in an identification process if mild over-identification of at-risk students was acceptable to the district. Any use of these identification procedures is assumed to be in connection with ethical intervention practices. Recommendations from this study included cross validation of the results and continuation of the study regarding the predictive accuracy of the identified variables as the students move through higher grade levels. The study also encouraged the Washougal School District to develop a formal collection and processing procedure for their routinely collected data.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-179).

No description available.

This thesis examines demographic data from 1358 clients from a mental health center in Anderson, Indiana in terms of the client's discharge record. It was hypothesized that there would be demographic data identified that would increase the therapist's ability to predict those most likely to drop from therapy. Support was obtained for this hypothesis, suggesting the client's socioeconomic status as the most reliable source of dropout identification.It was also hoped that by incorporating the cooperation of therapists in completing a questionnaire, particular therapist behaviors would be identified as effective tools in returning a dropout back to therapy. Therapist's demographic data were also to be examined in an attempt to suggest characteristics that may dispose a client toward premature termination. Unfortunately, obtaining the cooperation of the therapists proved more difficult than anticipated. Possible explanations were discussed in the transcript. Future research directions are also discussed.