Predicting University Attrition: A Replication and Extension

Abstract

A previous study by Edwards and Waters (1982) was replicated and extended by incorporating a personal needs/college climate discrepancy index and a voluntary/nonvoluntary attrition break-down. A seven quarter follow-up of 197 freshmen revealed the following outcomes:

1. First quarter grade point average and satisfaction with the nonacademic part of college combined to predict undifferentiated attrition (multiple correlation being .32)—a result which replicated the outcome of the previous study,

2. First quarter grade point average was the only variable predicting nonvoluntary (academic deficiency) attrition (r = .53),

3. The personal needs/college climate discrepancy index was marginally significant (p < .06) as a predictor of voluntary attrition.

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