D.Phil. (Educational Psychology) / The high incidence of school dropout in South African schools led to a joint research project by the Rand Afrikaans University and the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Social Ecology at the Ben Gurion University. Various facets of the school dropout phenomenon were researched with the aim of identifying the at risk student. Possible causes were hypothesised and researched under the broad categories of: self-concept, locus of control, family relations and school climate. These aspects were individually researched and this study culminates from these pilot studies. The aim of this study is an integrated approach to ascertain the interaction of variables that place students at risk. These variables were incorporated into a research design done with a sample group of 734 students taken from five schools in the Pretoria - Witwatersrand Vereeniging area. The findings of the research indicate that the above mentioned variables cause dropout but were not the best predictors of students at risk. Making use of Chaid's exploratory technique variables such as attitude towards school, own evaluation of performance, age and family size were identified as good predictors of students at risk. A logistical regression was used to design a model of prediction that could effectively be used in schools to identify the at risk student. The hope is expressed that early identification will lead to the application of appropriate remedial measures in order to prevent the at risk student from becoming a "school dropout".
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:11312 |
| Date | 02 June 2014 |
| Creators | Fredericks, Claude Ramon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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