On premature withdrawal : arresting attrition rates in Psychology I

Abstract

Psychology I currently has the largest enrolment of any course offered by this University and draws its students from a broad range of degree programs and faculties. The psychology department is, therefore, concerned with the high attrition rate in Psychology, an attrition rate which has an adverse effect across faculties, incurring both avoidable cost penalties and financial loss.

This paper reports on the first phase of a longitudinal study to:

locate sources of student dissatisfaction with the Psychology I course institute and evaluate improvements in the course contents, teaching practice and learning environment. The first phase focuses on the responses to a questionnaire administered to students who have withdrawn from Psychology I during the first semester of their studies.

The questionnaire aimed to establish:

sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the course whether there is a mismatch between student expectations and course content whether teaching methods meet student needs whether students experience particular difficulties with teaching materials and course content level of interest in the curriculum whether students are receiving sufficient help and constructive feedback the nature of interpersonal climate within the Psychology Department - do students have sufficient access or interaction with staff and is the atmosphere experienced as student-friendly