Student attrition and retention is a major issue of concern in first year classes within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. First year attrition in some programs is very high (e.g., Bachelor of Social Work and the Bachelor of Social Science approximately 30%) and signals that the first year experience may not be optimal. Possible contributors to attrition are student identity, attitudes, norms, and control beliefs. This project will examine how these constructs contribute to students’ intention to remain enrolled at university and also assess the impact of particular examples of high-impact learning within different Schools in the Faculty on identity and retention.
Investigators
- Dr Blake McKimmie
- Associate Professor Barbara Masser
- Associate Professor Andrew Hindmoor
- Associate Professor Julie Duck
- Professor Greg Marston
- Dr Patricia Short
Funding
- McKimmie, B. M., Masser, B. M., Hindmoor, A., Duck, J., Marston, G., & Short, P. (2010). $35,000 over 2 years. Student retention: The role of student attitudes and social identity. UQ Teaching and Learning Strategic Grants
Publications
- Louis, W., Bastion, B., McKimmie, B. M., & Lee, A. J. (2015). Teaching psychology in Australia: Does class attendance matter for performance? Australian Journal of Psychology. doi: 10.1111/ajpy.12088