ERIC Number: EJ1214296
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0671
EISSN: N/A
Why Do Students Drop Out? Turning Points and Long-Term Experiences
McDermott, Elana R.; Donlan, Alice E.; Zaff, Jonathan F.
Journal of Educational Research, v112 n2 p270-282 2019
Understanding the reasons that individuals drop out of high school is fundamental to improving intervention efforts to promote graduation. The authors present a mixed methods analysis of the reasons individuals drop out of high school before graduating. Using a survey methodology with young adults who left school before graduating (N = 1,047, M age = 21.5 years, SD = 2.2 years, age range =18-25 years), the authors assessed ongoing life stressors, as well as the turning points individuals identified as the top reason for why they left school. Qualitative analysis provided seven categories of turning points: mobility, family, peers, school engagement and environment, health, crime, and multiple categories. More than half of respondents indicated that the reason they dropped out was related to school engagement and environment. Results showed differences across profiles of lived experiences, reported turning points, and sex.
Descriptors: Dropout Attitudes, Dropouts, Young Adults, Stress Variables, Learner Engagement, Educational Environment, Academic Persistence, Family Life, Experience, Decision Making, Dropout Characteristics, Peer Influence, Antisocial Behavior, Individual Differences, Educational Attainment, Parent Background, Mothers, Race, Gender Differences, Student Mobility, Health, High School Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A