An Analytical Investigation of the Characteristics of the Dropout Students in Higher Education

Yehia Mortagy, Seta Boghikian-Whitby, Ibrahim Helou
Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology  •  Volume 15  •  2018  •  pp. 249-278

Student dropout in higher education institutions is a universal problem. This study identifies the characteristics of dropout. In addition, it develops a mathematical model to predict students who may dropout.

The paper develops a mathematical model to predict students who may dropout. The sample includes 555 freshmen in a non-profit private university. The study uses both descriptive statistics, such as cross tabulation, and a binary regression model to predict student dropout.

There are two major contributions for the paper. First, it identifies the dropout rates of each group, a finding that may be used to better allocate resources at higher education institutions. Second, it develops a predictive model that may be used in order to predict the probability of a student dropping out and take preventive actions.

This study compared dropout rates of one and a half year of enrollment among Traditional Undergraduate Students. Two major findings are the following: (1) Some of the resources designed to assist student are misallocated, and (2) Predictive models can be used to calculate the probability of a student dropping out.

The study recommends that institutions must create initiatives to assist freshmen students and have annual assessment to measure the success of the initiatives.

Two, mathematical models may be used to predict dropout rates, the paper includes a model that predicted with 66.6% accuracy students who will dropout.

dropouts, attrition, persistence, retention, higher education
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