A comparison of biographical variables dropouts, graduates and no-shows, at the Stephenville Adult Centre

Chipp, Dorman George (1972) A comparison of biographical variables dropouts, graduates and no-shows, at the Stephenville Adult Centre. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ten biographical variables and three categories of students at the Stephenville Adult Centre: those who successfully completed their programs, those who dropped out of their programs before completion and those who were selected to attend but did not report to start. These comparisons were made during two different time periods when two different types of academic programs were in effect. -- The sample used consisted of 531 students randomly selected from a total population of 4361 who attended the Centre from January 1968 to April 1972. -- Data for the present study came from Canada Manpower Forms which contained all the biographical information necessary for the study. The data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics as well as distributions and appropriate inferential procedures, such as the chi square and analysis of variance. -- All three student categories were very similar in both programs. Most were married males between the ages of 20 and 25, having a grade VII or VIII prior to entering up-grading and needing two grade levels of up-grading in order to enter the occupation of their choice. -- However, some important differences were as follows: 1) dropouts tended to be a little younger than graduates or no-shows; 2) most of the dropouts and no-shows were from outside the Stephenville area; 3) a large percentage of all students elected to work toward only a few of the many occupational goals that were available; also, there was a sizable number of dropouts who had no occupational goal; 4) the higher a student's entering grade level the greater seemed his chances of success; and 5) the more dependents a student had the greater seemed his chances of success. -- Further research was recommended into the reasons why so many students aspired to only a few courses when there were so many available. Also,further research was recommended into reasons why the dropouts and no-shows appeared similar to each other but different from the graduates. -- Major recommendations resulting from this study were as follows: 1) consideration be given to the establishment of adults centres in other areas of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador; 2) comprehensive vocational counselling and career information centre be set up; 3) study to be set up to investigate reasons as to why so many no-shows, who are unemployed, do not report for up-grading.

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