Purpose: Students of social research methods in search of a "Haynes manual" type set of instructions are often, if not invariably, thwarted in their ambitions and are either confronted with an abstract description which remains firmly at the level of methodology or, alternatively, an uncritical mechanical template for application. The…

British research on adult student retention/noncompletion reached the following conclusions: clear, reliable data are lacking; funding models ignore nontraditional students; and reasons for withdrawal are complex and interrelated. Keys to better retention are good student-staff relations and personal and academic support for learners. (SK)

The development and extension of open learning systems in British institutions of further and higher education has given rise to a need for changes in the methods of recording student progress. Open learning systems' provision of a wide flexibility of pace so that students can extend or compress their periods of study as compared with traditional…

This article examines the problem of British children permanently excluded from school, especially those excluded "unofficially" usually for behavioral difficulties. The article presents evidence of the incidence of unofficial exclusions, schools' options for dealing with exclusions, possible consequences of exclusions, and possible…

Johnes and Taylor refute the criticisms of McPherson and Paterson on their paper about undergraduate noncompletion rates. Criticism centered on the use of the mean A-level scores of entrants as a measure of academic ability, definition of noncompletion, and omission of student/staff ratios. (MLW)

This book combines findings of existing research with fresh evidence supplied from a sample of institutions regarding noncompletion rates of mature students in postcompulsory education. Chapter 1 considers the changes that have taken place in postcompulsory education and the implications of having an expanded and more diverse student population.…

In a yearlong project, Britain's Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) investigated why some students leave their educational programs before achieving their certificates or diplomas. The project drew information on completion rates from the BTEC database. Views of BTEC centers' staff were canvassed through a national survey covering…

A review of the research on correspondence education with emphasis on its two-way communication aspects introduces this report on a series of studies designed to shed light upon problems related to the design and delivery of correspondence instruction. A total of 1,805 adult students enrolled in regular Swedish, Norwegian, and British…

This guide is designed to share the experiences of 25 British further education colleges and adult education services that have developed demonstrably successful strategies to improve student retention. An introduction discusses the report's background, content, and format. The format mixes thematic presentation with mini-case studies and…