Are leavers different from stayers?

Abstract

Dropout causes are varied, as is the way in which they are researched. In this paper, we study the correlation between student perceptions of the teaching-learning environment and dropping out by investigating the interaction between students and the teaching-learning environment before the students make the decision to stay or leave. Survey data from 4,339 students at a major research-intensive Danish university combined with administrative data were analysed, and the results point to two main differences between stayers and leavers. First, students who later decided to leave university found their courses to be less interesting and less relevant compared to the experience of the students staying, and second, students with a high academic self-efficacy belief are less at risk of dropping out of their university studies. A methodological strength of the study is that student perceptions were measured when the students were all still enrolled. This reduces the risk of the leavers' perception being affected by their decision to leave.

Teaching During a Pandemic

“…Another reason was to know in what courses the teaching was working, and they got the information they needed, and in what courses we needed to adjust better to the situation. It is important to keep the courses interesting for the students as this is one of the main reasons why students drop out [8].This interaction with the students was also so that they felt part of the process and that they felt that the common goal was to give them the best possible teaching and keep them interested in the courses that they were taking. This is in accordance with what Skodvin [9] says; that it is important to engage and arouse curiosity in students.…”

Betydning af individuelle faktorer for frafaldsrisiko - en analyse af spørgeskemaer og studieadministrative data

“…Flere studier har brugt studieadministrative data til at undersøge baggrundskarakteristikas betydning for frafald, dette dog oftest på enkelte studieretninger (Bager-Elsborg, Herrmann, Troelsen, & Ulriksen, 2019;Holm & Rasmussen, 2016;U. Larsen, 2000;Midtiby & Egemose, 2019;O'Neill, Christensen, Vonsild, & Wallstedt, 2014;O'Neill, Hartvigsen, Wallstedt, Korsholm, & Eika, 2011).…”

“…Samtidig viser resultaterne fra cox-regressionen, at mange baggrundsfaktorer har betydning for risikoen for frafald. Højere alder har en negativ betydning, hvilket flugter fint med resultater fra tidligere forskning (Bager-Elsborg et al, 2019;Holm & Rasmussen, 2016;U. Larsen, 2000;O'Neill et al, 2014O'Neill et al, , 2011.…”