A study of student retention at the University of Missouri--St. Louis focused on the behavior of stopouts. Retention of first-time freshmen was higher than that of transfers, but the cumulative percentage of graduates of transfers by the fourth year was double that of first-time freshmen. Males showed higher retention rates, as did Whites over…

Much research has focused on the school dropout--the consequences of dropping out, dropout characteristics, and dropout rate. This paper takes a single community (Muncie, Indiana) and explores the reasons for the high school dropout rate at four different points in time: 1924, 1937, 1952, 1977. (KC)

Discusses the nonacademic problems which cause developmental education students at Dyke College, Cleveland, to interrupt their studies. Considers problems in four categories: financial, health, family responsibility, and involvement in litigation. (Author/DR)

The study presents an investigation of the association between freshman year voluntary persistence/withdrawal decisions and different types of student-faculty informal contact beyond the classroom. (JMF)

Asserting that graduation and stopout are "competing" or correlated events and that they often should be modeled as such, this study demonstrated that factors affecting timely graduation (e.g., financial aid) often have time-varying effects, and that ignoring these time-varying effects can lead to spurious conclusions that may result in…

This study analyzed follow-up information on graduates (n=95) and noncompleters (n=54) of the University of Lancaster (Great Britain.) Data on family background, educational qualifications, and labor market experience suggested that part of the salary differential in favor of graduates was accounted for by other factors such as other professional…

Effects of credit load on the intent-turnover relation at a community college were assessed. Results of a stepwise logistic regression model for 316 students indicate that intent was more strongly related to turnover among students carrying 13 or more credit hours as compared to students carrying fewer credit hours. (TJH)

The authors of the book "Reducing the Risk: Schools as Communities of Support" are interviewed. The book proposes a research-based theory of dropout prevention that stresses the importance of school membership and networks of support. (TE)

Examines the problem of high attrition rates after the introductory compulsory year for students studying languages other than English (LOTEs) in Australian high schools. A quantitative study is described that determined students' intentions to continue with language studies in the following year. Implications for LOTE teaching are discussed. (51…

Interviews with 18 registered nurses elicited 7 themes describing participation in baccalaureate programs. Findings identified a new participation variable--commitment--and demonstrated the role of life transitions in making the time right to pursue a degree. Sources of power, load factors, and effect of margin size on persistence (McClusky's…

Compares 220 adult male felons incarcerated in New York State's Sing Sing Correctional Facility (79 percent are dropouts and 84 percent are from urban settings) to dropouts in the literature. The dropouts have many similarities with nonincarcerated dropouts and have more in common with them than with fellow inmates. (SLD)

This article shows how the methods of survival analysis (also known as event history analysis) lend themselves to the study of the timing of educational events. Using examples from teacher attrition and student dropout research, survival methods are introduced for building statistical models of the risk of event occurrence over time. (Author/SLD)

Finds that the lowest drop-out rates tend to occur in small rural high schools with a grade span of 7-12. Notes that such schools tend to have limited course offerings and a high percentage of their budgets devoted to extracurricular activities. Suggests that close interpersonal relationships among students and teachers may be a factor in these…

Reviews research on high school dropouts and elementary school literacy needs. Looks at elements of successful early-intervention programs (including schools and parents, school structure issues, and promising practices in early reading instruction). Offers recommendations for teacher and administrator preparation and professional development.…

Tests the proposition that middle-class dropouts are more likely to engage in delinquency as a result of dropping out than lower-class dropouts. Seeks to test social control and strain theory explanations for observed dropout-delinquency relationships. Results indicate dropping out is more likely to be associated with higher levels of delinquency…