The purpose of this study was to determine a retention path model which is appropriate for architecture students attending a residential institution. The identified model could be utilized to assist in the development of retention programs designed specifically for students in professional architecture programs. / Attrition rates in architecture programs have been traditionally high. Although there has been extensive research into the problems of attrition/retention at the university level, few studies have focused upon the special characteristics and specific needs of architecture students. Therefore an attrition/retention model validated specifically for architecture students is desirable. / Data were collected from students in a professional architecture program utilizing a survey instrument that was created from measures developed and refined in previous model validation studies. A factor analysis was performed utilizing the data from the survey to confirm that the instrument measured constructs similar to those in the previous studies. A combination of these constructs and other variables were analyzed based on path analysis models from the previous studies of student attrition in higher education. Although the structural equation was based on previous studies, a different statistical procedure, LISREL 7, was used. / The data were fitted to a path model based on the Tinto Model of Institutional Departure (1987) to determine if the architectural data provided an adequate fit. The model was then modified to increase the goodness of fit to reflect the differences in the architectural data. / It was found that the resulting architectural model resembled previous models developed from non-traditional students, commuter schools, more than models developed from institutions similar to their own. The major difference from the more traditional model was the absence of social interaction among the students. It was recommended that programmatic changes be made to increase the ability of architecture students of interact with the university community. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-03, Section: A, page: 0398. / Major Professor: Hollie B. Thomas. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1994.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77122 |
| Contributors | Wiencke, William Raymond., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 114 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
Page generated in 0.002 seconds