Matters of Success: A Deliberative Polling Approach to the Study of Student Retention

Abstract

In this article, the authors discuss a recent study they carried out at a mid-sized state university that used a polling method called deliberative polling. This type of polling differs from conventional polling in that respondents are polled before and after a deliberative session in which they discuss issues based on pertinent and empirically-grounded information. This method, it is argued, uncovers observations and insights that could prove valuable to improving university retention and graduation rates.

Academic Advising and Student Retention in Distance Learning: The Case of University of Cape Coast, Ghana

“…The findings are inconsistent with studies by Brown et al (2014), Hagahmed (2014) and HolseyHayman (2015) who found academic advising to be significantly related to students' retention. Holsey-Hayman (2015) participants indicated that the support they got from professors and academic advisors helped them to stay in school.…”

“…Thus, advising service did not statistically improve students' retention. Further, the findings of a study conducted by Brown and Kenney (2014) on "Matters of success: A deliberative polling approach to the study of student retention", revealed that, before participants' attended the deliberative event, they perceived academic advising as unhelpful to them. On the contrary, students' attitudes toward academic advising changed after they were exposed to academic advising through a freshman experience course.…”