Factors Predicting Student-Athlete Retention and Attrition in Higher Education

Factors Predicting Student-Athlete Retention and Attrition in Higher Education
Author: Jong Eun Lee
Publisher:
Total Pages: 91
Release: 2021
Genre: College athletes
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Although there has been a growing body of research on student-athlete retention in higher education, no studies to date have conducted a meta-analysis for investigating predictors of student-athlete retention and attrition. Moreover, the results of existing literature indicate that the factors impacting collegiate athletes' retention are mixed. Since student-athletes are from various backgrounds and different types of schools (e.g., Division I, II, III schools, or community colleges), it is crucial to address a generalized and coherent evidence of numerous factors from the multiple independent studies. Toward that end, conducting a meta-analysis is necessary and critical at this stage. Meta-analysis is the most valuable and effective statistical technique to better understand the factors predicting retention for this specialized subgroup of the higher education student population because it illustrates a quantitative summarization of various factors. Furthermore, meta-analysis allows researchers to compare differences between the retention predictors within a group of collegiate student-athletes from diverse backgrounds and different institutions.A total of 85 independent effect sizes were obtained from the 30 studies on various predictors of collegiate student-athlete retention and attrition. The results of the meta-analysis indicate that personal characteristics of student-athletes, including gender and race are strong predictors of their retention and attrition. The characteristic of the institutions in which student-athletes enroll in public or private schools is also important moderators of retention. Academic variables (standardized tests, high school GPA, high school rank, college GPA, and academic integration) are found to significantly correlate with retention and attrition. When it comes to athletic variables, sport types, changing coaches, playing time, and team success are discovered as moderators. Lastly, institutional supports and services are shown to be predictors of retention and attrition.The study aims to provide school administrators, educators, policymakers, and scholars with generalized evidence for promoting student-athlete retention. The findings of this research will allow them to objectively evaluate factors, their effectiveness, and for whom and under what conditions they are effective. Ultimately, practitioners and educators will be able to implement the outcomes of this study to increase collegiate student-athletes' retention in their educational setting.

The Identification of Key Factors Student-athletes Perceived to be Important to the College Student-athlete Retention Process

The Identification of Key Factors Student-athletes Perceived to be Important to the College Student-athlete Retention Process
Author: Christina A. Rivera
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2004
Genre: College athletes
ISBN:
GET BOOK

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify the key factors student-athletes perceived to be important in their decision-making to stay in school. To accomplish this purpose, it was necessary to: 1) construct a conceptual model of student-athlete retention based upon the literature associated with traditional student retention and the college student-athlete experience, 2) utilize the conceptual model of student-athlete retention to guide the creation of an instrument that captures student-athlete perceptions of factors important to the retention process, and 3) use exploratory factor analysis to extract meaningful factors underlying the items of the instrument. Participants in this study consisted of 330 NCAA Division I student-athletes attending a large west coast university. Using the Understanding College Student-Athlete Retention Questionnaire developed for this study, data were collected in person during a team meeting for each participating sport. A total of 42 items, one question regarding intent to leave, and 17 demographic questions were included in the questionnaire. The Likert-scaled items were measured on a six-point scale ranging from Not Important (1) to Very Important (6) with the Importance scale referring to how important each statement is to the participant's decision to stay in school. Principal components analysis with VARIMAX rotation extracted a four-factor model. Cronbach's alpha and split-half (Spearman-Brown) reliability coefficients were calculated for the instrument and for each extracted factor. The questionnaire had a reliability coefficient of .930, whereas each factor had a reliability coefficient greater than or equal to .784. Forty-one of the 42 items included in the questionnaire loaded onto one of four factors: Quality of Academic Experience, Quality of Athletic Experience, In-Network Support, and Out-Of-Network Support. These four factors reflect what student-athletes perceived to be important to the student-athlete retention process. Factor scores were also calculated for each factor based on intent to leave. Results indicated that respondents who did not have intentions of leaving school early placed a significantly higher level of importance on the Quality of Academic Experience, whereas respondents who did have intentions of leaving school early placed a significantly higher level of importance on the Quality of Athletic Experience.

Factors Associated with Academic Performance and Retention of Academically "at-risk" Freshman Student-athletes

Factors Associated with Academic Performance and Retention of Academically
Author: Kelly Ann Hewitt
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:
GET BOOK

The purpose of this study was to identify student and institutional characteristics related to attrition and retention among academically "at-risk" Pac-10 freshman student-athletes. The intent of this research was to determine factors that influence the academic performance of academically at-risk student-athletes with the intention of increasing the persistence and, therefore, graduation rates of this population. A total of 200 questionnaires were mailed to the eight public PAC-10 institutions. A total of 48 usable individual questionnaires from six institutions were returned resulting in a response rate of 24 percent. Eleven student-athletes were female and 37 were male. Three female and 22 male student-athletes were deficient (cumulative GPA of less than 2.0). Eight female and 15 male student-athletes were successful (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher)

Examining the Academic Success of Student Athletes Participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

Examining the Academic Success of Student Athletes Participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
Author: Katie A. Moleski
Publisher:
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2021
Genre: Academic achievement
ISBN:
GET BOOK

The purpose of this research is to examine factors influencing the academic success of student athletes participating in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); a growing and largely unstudied group of students. This study uses institutional data collected for the NAIA's Return on Athletics® initiative in 2019-2020 as well as, data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Five research questions used logistic regression to explore factors that influence student athlete retention, graduation, differences for varsity and non-varsity athletes, for various levels of academic performance, and athletic scholarship totals. All data were analyzed using STATA. The findings from this study are that while overall, student athletes represented in this data set are retained at a high rate, certain sub-groups may be at risk for attrition. Specifically, non-varsity athletes are less likely retained. Additionally, student athletes with a grade point average below a 3.0 or those who have been enrolled at an institution for less than five semesters are less likely to be retained. Black student athletes were found to be more likely to complete degrees and graduation was found to be positively influenced by financial aid in the form of work-study. Lastly, results of this research indicate the Return on Athletics® data initiative is a viable tool for analyzing factors that influence student athlete success. Based on the findings of this research, this paper includes recommendations for continued and improved Return on Athletics® data collection. Additionally, recommendations are provided for targeting student athlete success initiatives at specific sub-groups of the population who may be particularly at risk for retention issues. Finally, in an effort to build on this research and advance student athlete academic success, suggestions for future research are included.

A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Attrition Among NCAA DIII Student-athletes Based on Roster Gender, Sport-type, and Sport-attrition

A Predictive Correlation Study Examining Attrition Among NCAA DIII Student-athletes Based on Roster Gender, Sport-type, and Sport-attrition
Author: Rebecca Jean Kayda
Publisher:
Total Pages: 86
Release: 2021
Genre: College athletes
ISBN:
GET BOOK

This quantitative, correlational study examined whether gender, sport-type, and sport attrition can predict university attrition of student-athletes from a small, private, NCAA DIII institution. Student-athletes attending DIII institutions are considered a vulnerable population and are largely under-studied. Participation in extra-curricular activities, such as belonging to an athletics team, has been linked to higher rates of social integration on campus and smoother transitions into college life overall. This participation has not been shown to decrease academic performance; however, university attrition of student-athletes remains a problem. This problem is especially relevant in smaller schools, where a small percentage of student attrition can create a sizable change in both revenue and campus climate. Student-athletes from a single institution (N = 409) made up the sample, with data being collected through archival data from the university. This study employed a logistic regression to analyze the data and determine the predictive association of gender, sport-type, and sport attrition on university attrition. Future studies should consider qualitative follow-up with student-athletes who have left their institution to determine whether there are more important factors in attrition that should be examined.