Campus Units
Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Statistics, Physics and Astronomy
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
6-11-2018
Journal or Book Title
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice
DOI
10.1177/1521025118780502
Abstract
Students are most likely to leave science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors during their first year of college. We developed an analytic approach using random forests to identify at-risk students. This method is deployable midway through the first semester and accounts for academic preparation, early engagement in university life, and performance on midterm exams. By accounting for cognitive and noncognitive factors, our method achieves stronger predictive performance than would be possible using cognitive or noncognitive factors alone. We show that it is more difficult to predict whether students will leave STEM than whether they will leave the institution. More factors contribute to STEM retention than to institutional retention. Early academic performance is the strongest predictor of STEM and institution retention. Social engagement is more predictive of institutional retention, while standardized test scores, goals, and interests are stronger predictors of STEM retention. Our approach assists universities to efficiently identify at-risk students and boost STEM retention.
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Copyright Date
2018
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Sage, Andrew J.; Cervato, Cinzia; Genschel, Ulrike; and Ogilvie, Craig, "Combining Academics and Social Engagement: A Major-Specific Early Alert Method to Counter Student Attrition in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics" (2018). Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Publications. 255.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ge_at_pubs/255
Included in
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Engineering Education Commons, Higher Education Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons, Statistical Methodology Commons
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Sage, Andrew J., Cinzia Cervato, Ulrike Genschel, and Craig A. Ogilvie. "Combining Academics and Social Engagement: A Major-Specific Early Alert Method to Counter Student Attrition in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics." Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice (2018). doi: