http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
a multivariate, multi-perspective, longitudinal analysis of the process of dropping out of secondary school
xiii, 325 leaves : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) were used to investigate the process of dropping out of secondary school. Descriptive discriminant analyses (DDA) were employed to determine the underlying structure that discriminated among the various groups reflecting educational status in 1992 (i.e., alternative completers, early dropouts, late dropouts vs stayins or stayins vs dropouts). Predictive discriminant analyses (PDA) were employed to predict the educational status of a 1988 eighth-grade cohort in 1992 (for most sample members, their senior year of high school) using data collected in 1988 (eighth-grade) and/or 1990. Replicability analyses conducted for the PDAs indicated that the PDA results are likely to be replicated. The results from the predictive discriminant analyses and the replicability analyses conducted indicated that the PDA classification functions are useful predictors of high school dropout. A relatively small cluster of predictor variables proved to be efficacious across all of the analyses. These variables were related to (a) students and dropouts' expectations for educational attainment, (b) parental expectations for childrens educational attainment, (c) friends expectations for educational attainment, (d) family composition, (e) number of hours worked, (f) number of friends who have dropped out of school, (g) parental education, (h) school attendance, (i) social adjustment (e.g., marijuana use, in-school suspension), and (j) urbanicity. The PDA classification functions can be employed by educators and psychologists to identify at-risk students and aid in developing more effective prevention and intervention strategies for students at-risk of dropping out of school.
Issued also on microfiche from University Microfilms Inc.
Includes bibliographical references: pages 228-242.