Aim/Purpose: Dropout is a critical problem in graduate college programs across disciplines and institutions. Yet relatively little research has assessed graduate students’ motivations for dropping out across disciplines, or systematically modeled perceptions that contribute to dropout intentions. Background: Perceptions drive critical decisions that people make about their lives, and a core set of these perceptions consistently predict adults’ educational intentions and choices. This study investigates how a set of critical perceptions predict the strength of graduate students’ dropout intentions. Methodology: This study models their differential contributions using structural equation modeling, in AMOS®. Participants were 886 masters and doctoral students across programs and colleges in a Southwestern university in the United States. Findings: The best-fitting model demonstrated most significant influences on graduate students’ dropout intentions were predicted by: satisfaction with the overall graduate experience (not just program-of-study), self-efficacy for professional success (not just coursework), and the Perceived Graduate Experience Gap (expectations vs. experience in graduate school). Model fit was excellent for the whole group, and demonstrated some nuanced differences for subgroups, notably by degree type and point-in-program. Recommendations for Practitioners: These findings illuminate considerations useful to graduate faculty and program administrators concerned about improving retention and completion. They can inform policies and practice for preventing and reducing graduate student dropout.
This study investigated teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within the paradigm of task-based language teaching, concentrating on marine engineering English teaching in a Chinese vocational college. Two natural groups of students taking their ESP courses took part in the study as a control group (N=28) and an experimental group (N=33) from 2014 spring to 2014 fall. Teacher-designed reading, listening and speaking pre-test and post-test (simulating the governmental tests held by China Maritime Safety Administration Bureau), and survey were used as the basis for study. The students in the control group and the experimental group were taught in traditional approach and task-based approach respectively. At the end of one academic year study, the students were given a post-test to determine whether there was effect of the treatment on the experimental group. Data analysis showed that there was no statistically significant difference in reading achievement between students in the control group and students receiving task-based instruction, but there was effect on students’ listening and speaking competency. In the investigation, most students were satisfied with task-based instruction, and they proposed some feedbacks and suggestions for the task-based instruction in ESP courses which are beneficial for future instruction.
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