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FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE STUDENTS' DECISION TO DROPOUT OF ONLINE COURSES
Pedro A. Willging
Department of Human Resource Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 61820
email: willging@uiuc.edu
Scott D. Johnson
Department of Human Resource Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: sjohnson@uiuc.edu
ABSTRACT
Although there are many reasons why students dropout of college courses, those reasons may be unique for students who are enrolled in an online program. Issues of isolation, disconnectedness, and technological problems may be factors that influence a student to leave a course. To understand these factors, an online survey was developed to collect data from students who dropped out of an online program. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare various factors between those who persist in the program and those who dropout. The results, based on the dropouts from three cohorts in an online graduate program, show that demographic variables do not predict likelihood of dropping from a program. Instead, the students' reasons for dropping out of an online program are varied and unique to each individual. Recommendations for further study are incorporated in the conclusions.
I. INTRODUCTION
The landscape of education is changing with the increasing popularity of online instruction. Developments in educational use of computers, software, and distributed networks have led to questions about the effectiveness of this new method of educational delivery and the conditions that make it a successful experience for learners [1, 2]. Dropout rate is one measure of the effectiveness of an online program. Program quality can be determined, in part, by calculating student completion rates [3], and these rates tend to be lower for online classes [4]. This suggests that online programs may be less desirable for certain students than the more traditional face-to-face type of instruction.
"While there is now some statistical information available on distance education at higher education institutions in the United States, very few, if any, research surveys have focused on online education" [5]. National estimates on attrition in graduate programs in higher education are not available, in part due to the diversity of the programs and in the difficulty in establishing common metrics that allow valid cross-program comparisons of program completion and dropout rates [6]. Moreover, since high dropout rates reflect poorly on a program, which can impact program promotion and recruitment efforts, some institutions have registration procedures that mask attrition. For example, at the British Open University, beginning students register on a temporary basis, and, if they withdraw within three months of starting the
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Mostly from anecdotal information, it is estimated that dropout rates for distance education are higher than those for on-campus programs and courses. Some studies roughly estimate that students enrolled in distance education are twice as likely to drop out than on-campus students. For example, Dutton, Dutton, and Perry [8] studied two class sections of an introduction to computer programming course; one was taught on-campus and the other in an online version of the course. Their results revealed substantial differences in the likelihood of students to complete the course. The online students had a 72.2% completion rate, while 90.3% of the undergraduates completed their face-to-face course. A study of enrollment and attrition rates for the online MBA program at West Texas A&M University found that online courses enroll more students than traditional campus courses but they also suffer from higher attrition rates [9]. That study was conducted by analyzing 15 graduate business courses offered during the past three years where the same professor taught both the campus and the internet courses.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Two theories provide a comprehensive theoretical framework that might explain why students leave a course. One of these theories is Tinto's Student Integration Model, in which persistence is hypothesized to be related to how well the individual's motivation and academic ability match the institution's academic and social characteristics. This match shapes a person's commitment to completing college and commitment to the institution [10]. The second theory, Bean's Model of Student Departure, predicts persistence based on behavioral intention. These behavioral intentions are shaped by beliefs and attitudes. Student's experiences within the institution, but also factors external to the institution, can affect beliefs, attitudes, and decisions [11]. Noting some gaps in Tinto's theory, a convergence model has been suggested that combines the major propositions embedded in these two theories [12].
The American College Testing (ACT) program collects data about collegiate dropout rates in general. Table 1 shows dropout rate means and standard deviations for freshmen to sophomore year by type of institution. More than 2,500 institutions are included in the compiled data for these 2003 estimates [13].
Table 1: Freshman to Sophomore Year by Type of Institution
Degree Level
N
Dropout Rate Mean (%)
Standard Deviation
Two-year Public
729
47.2
14.6
Two-year Private
122
33.0
18.4
BA/BS Public
84
31.8
13.4
BA/BS Private
464
29.6
16.6
MA Public
227
30.2
10.7
MA Private
506
25.7
12.0
PhD Public
214
22.7
9.4
PhD Private
184
17.7
12.1
Source: The American College Testing Program (2003).
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What else can I help you with?
What is the unemployment rate for the high school dropout in 2008 for an associate's degree?
3.7 is the unemployment rate for the high school dropout in 2008 for an associate's degree.
What is the dropout rate for high schoolers in Alabama?
Approx. 16%
What was the dropout rate in 2014?
Dropout rate of what from which universty or institution is mean is not clear.
What is the average dropout rate of high schools in America?
35-40%. Some areas are as high as 50%.
What are the top 3 countries with the highest high school dropout rate?
Norway iceland and australia
What percent of high student drop out?
If you mean High School dropout rate, the status dropout rate declined from 14 percent in 1980 to 8 percent in 2008. A significant part of this decline occurred between 2000 and 2008 (from 11 percent to 8 percent).
What is the national high school dropout rate for class of 2007?
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What is the death rate of a high school dropout?
Pretty quickly, since you're pretty much worthless.
What can learners do to overcome the problem of high dropout rate and failure rate in their first year at colleges or universities?
What can learners do to decrease the drop out at universities
What is the dropout rate for Norway?
.32%
What is a sentence with the word dropout?
His son is a high school dropout.
What problems does education face in Central America?
Shortage of trained teachers, a high dropout rate, and a shortage of secondary schools
