Outward Bound New Zealand provides 21-day residential motivational intervention courses (Catalyst courses) to long-term unemployed clients approved by the Ministry of Social Development. During the period 2002/03, 20% of participants starting the course dropped out before course completion; which was double the contracted acceptable level set by the Ministry of Social Development. This study aimed to understand the reasons for these dropouts. Statistical analysis of 585 participants, including 119 early dropouts, identified two significant attributes associated with premature dropout: the smoking habits of participants and duration of enrollment. The social interactions of participants were a third attribute identified from qualitative analysis of participants' dropout report responses. Tinto's (1993) model of institutional dropout has been adapted to Outward Bound with respect to the outcomes of this data analysis.
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