Factor Structure of Variables Associated with Dropout: A Confirmatory Study

Authors

  • D.R. Garrison University of Calgary

Abstract

Understanding and predicting dropout in adult education necessitates not only multivariate but multifactor designs. As a result, considerable conceptual and technical sophistication is required to deal with this complexity. One method of approaching this problem is through a conceptual offering of variables associated with adult dropout. This study addressed the internal and external validity of a theoretically derived and confirmed typology of dropout factors originally proposed by Garrison (1988). Additional variables were included based upon Tinto's (1975) and Boshier's (1973) theories of dropout and a different population of learners was the focus for data collection. The findings confirmed the original typology but concluded that the original typology was a higher order factor structure where each of the original factors is likely to be multifaceted. The relationship of this typology with reported participation and nonparticipation factor structures is also discussed.

Résumé

Pour comprendre et prédire les abandons en éducation des adultes, il faut des devis non seulement à variables multiples mais aussi multifactoriels. Ce qui signifie que pour bien cerner cette complexité, il faut être très sophistiqué au plan conceptuel et technique. Une méthode pour aborder le problème est l'utilisation d'un ensemble de variables associées au phénomène de l'abandon chez les adultes. Cette étude a examiné la validité intrinsèque et extrinsèque d'une typologie des facteurs d'abandon développée par Garrison (1988), cette typologie ayant d'abord été dérivée théoriquement puis vérifiée. Les théories de l'abandon de Tinto (1975) et de Boshier (1973) ont inspiré l'ajout de variables. Une population différente d'apprenants a été le focus pour la collecte des données. Les résultats, bien qu'ayant confirmé la typologie initiale, mènent à la conclusion que cette typologie est une structure factorielle d'un niveau plus élevé, où chacun des facteurs initiaux peut avoir de multiples facettes. La relation de cette typologie avec les structures factorielles de participation et de non participaton est discutée.

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Published

1990-05-01

How to Cite

Garrison, D. (1990). Factor Structure of Variables Associated with Dropout: A Confirmatory Study. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 4(1), 1–15. Retrieved from https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/cjsae/article/view/2334

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (1990)

Section

Articles

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