Abstract

HERNANDEZ-JIMENEZ, María Teresa; MOREIRA-MORA, Tania Elena; SOLIS-SALAZAR, Martín  and  FERNANDEZ-MARTIN, Tatiana. A Descriptive Study of Sociodemographic and Motivational Variables Associated with Dropping out of School: A Perspective of Freshman University Students. Educación [online]. 2020, vol.44, n.1, pp.210-229. ISSN 2215-2644.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15517/revedu.v44i1.37247.

Analyzing the college dropout phenomenon is complex, given the different social, family, individual and institutional factors that come into play. This study attempts to uncover various sociodemographic and motivational variables associated with the reasons associated with freshman students who dropped out a college. The study is based on a cohort of from 2011, 2012 and 2013, which included both active and those who had dropped out of a State Costa Rican University. A questionnaire was drafted that included both open and close-ended questions. The questionnaire was validated by a group of experts and a focal group. Afterwards, a non-probabilistic sample of 519 students completed an online and phone survey. The results of a chi-square test reveal that dropping out of school was associated with not being able to enroll in a student´s first choice major, lack of interest in the career path the student was admitted to and student desire to attend another college. The main finding in this study is that motivational values have the highest impact on a student´s decision to withdraw from school. Based on the results, we recommend appropriate vocational testing to reduce student probability of dropping out and create a strategy to keep students motivated during their first two years of college.

Keywords : Dropout; Higher education; Sociodemographic Characteristics; Motivation.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )