ERIC Number: ED214579
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982-Mar
Pages: 14
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Estimating the Effects of College, Department, Teacher and Course on Course Completion Rates.
Easton, John Q.; Guskey, Thomas R.
A study was conducted to examine the effects of four independent variables, i.e., college, department, teacher, and course, on course completion rates at the City Colleges of Chicago. Three colleges were chosen as representative of the eight City Colleges, and the English, Business, and Mathematics Departments were chosen from the departments with the largest enrollments. From within each of the three departments at the three campuses, ten teachers, each teaching one introductory course and one higher-level course in spring 1981, were randomly selected. Statistical analyses revealed significant variations in completion rates between teachers and between colleges, with these two factors accounting for about two-thirds of the total variation. There was also significant variation between departments across colleges and considerably greater variation between colleges than between departments within a college. The study revealed an insignificant level of variation between upper and lower-level courses. Since teacher effect accounts for the largest amount of variation in earned credit rates, staff development should be considered as a method for improving student achievement and retention rates. Differences between colleges may be due to policy, administrative expectations, or procedures, and an examination of these factors may be appropriate. (HB)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A