How well does the Theory of Planned Behavior predict graduation among college and university students with disabilities?

Abstract

The goal of this research was to develop a model to predict which students with disabilities will drop out before graduation and to investigate the drop out pattern of students with disabilities. To accomplish this we evaluated potential predictors of persistence and drop-out among 611 college and university students with various disabilities and developed a prediction model. We tested this model in a retrospective study using an independent sample of actual graduates (n = 133) and premature leavers (n = 39). Results show that the best predictors of academic persistence and dropout are the three Theory of Planned Behavior scales. These predicted 25% of the variance in intention to graduate and correctly classified 83% of participants who were no longer in school (86% of graduates and 74% of premature leavers). Path analysis showed linkages between demographic, academic performance, personality, self-efficacy, and college experience measures and the three Theory of Planned Behavior predictors. Key reasons for dropping out were: disability, health, finances, career direction uncertainty, inadequate disability accommodations, and lack of interest/motivation. A one-page questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (i.e., Attitude, Subjective Norms, Perceived Behavioral Control) can add to the literature on predictors of intention to graduate, graduation and drop-out among college and university students with disabilities; this is enclosed in the Appendix.

Theory of Planned Behavior Predicts Graduation Intentions of Canadian and Israeli Postsecondary Students with and without Learning Disabilities/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Theory of Planned Behavior Postsecondary Graduation Questionnaire. A one page measure with four subscales was developed by Fichten, et al (2014). These were adapted from Davis, Ajzen, Saunders, and Williams (2002).…”

“…The TPB has been used successfully to predict graduation and intention to graduate in various North American postsecondary samples (e.g., Thomas, 2014;Fichten, et al, 2014Fichten, et al, , 2015Sutter, 2014). However, it has not been used for Israeli students, or for students attending an open university.…”

Postsecondary Students with Specific Learning Disabilities and with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Should Not be Considered as a Unified Group For Research or Practice

“…This investigation was part of a larger study that sought to help identify facilitating factors and barriers to students with disabilities pursuing college or university education in Canada (Fichten et al, 2014). In 2010, we recruited 611 current students with disabilities who were enrolled in a diploma or degree program in a Canadian postsecondary institution.…”

An Empirical Study of Managers’ Intention to Hire Older Workers

“…Hence, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control were predictive functions of behavioural intention, and behavioural intention in turn predicted an overt behaviour (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980). Therefore, it was appropriate to assume that intentions predict individual's actual behaviour (Fichten et al, 2014).…”