Authoritativeness Game

Results from Round 1: What are the main reasons people drop out of high school?

Group 1: Ally, Nicole, Kristie

Beekhoven, Sandra, and Hetty Dekkers. "EARLY SCHOOL LEAVING IN THE LOWER VOCATIONAL TRACK: TRIANGULATION OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA." Adolescence 40.157 (2005): 197-213. Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. [1]

A bit specific to a particular student population, but relevant. -Alfino

Wells, Don, and Mark J. Miller. "School Counselors' Accuracy in Identifying Adolescents At Risk..." Adolescence 34.135 (1999): 457. Health Source - Consumer Edition. EBSCO. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. [2]

This one is indirect, but since it showed that the counselor's were accurate, it is relevant. - Alfino

Group 2: Samantha, Lindsay, and Caelyn

Christle, Christine A.; Jolivette, Kristine; Nelson, C. Michael. Remedial & Special Education, Nov/Dec2007, Vol. 28 Issue 6, p325-339, 15p, 8 Charts; (AN 27616048) [3]

Group 3: Rick, Nick, Stuart, Jordan

1) Dropping out of High School: The Role of School Organization and Structure Valerie E. Lee and David T. Burkam American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Summer, 2003), pp. 353-393 Published by: American Educational Research Association Stable URL: [4]

Check out the abstract:

Dropping out of high school culminates a long-term process of disengagement from school and has profound social and economic consequences for students, their families, and their communities. Students who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed, to earn less than those who graduate, to be on public assistance, and to end up in prison. The present study examined dropout rates in Kentucky high schools (N = 196), using both quantitative and qualitative procedures. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were computed to identify those school-level variables that showed strong relationships to dropout rates. A sample of 20 schools with the highest dropout rates was compared to a sample of 20 schools with the lowest dropout rates using a multivariate analysis of variance. Furthermore, 4 schools from each group were selected as case examples. Information gathered from administrator surveys, staff interviews, and on-site observations provided detailed descriptions of the characteristics of schools with high and low dropout rates. The findings of this study demonstrated that a number of school variables are differentially related to dropout rate. Implications of these findings for school reform are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We'll be talking about statistical analyses of correlation in determining causation in the coming class periods. This one is definitely relevant.

2)Moreno, Diana. "Experiences of a High School Dropout." Teen Decisions: Education and College. Ed. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. INLAN - Gonzaga University Library. 17 Mar. 2010 [5].

This one is interesting. On the one hand, it's pretty idiosyncratic and narrative. No research, but if you scroll to the bibliography you see some interesting citations. Good example of the importance of browsing. In researching, I might not actually cite this one, but I might find something good by searching some of the citations.

3)Archambault, Isabelle, et al. "Adolescent Behavioral, Affective, and Cognitive Engagement in School: Relationship to Dropout." Journal of School Health 79.9 (2009): 408-415. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. [6]

BACKGROUND: High school dropout represents an important public health issue. This study assessed the 3 distinct dimensions of student engagement in high school and examined the relationships between the nature and course of such experiences and later dropout. METHODS: We administered questionnaires to 13,330 students (44.7% boys) from 69 high schools in the province of Quebec (Canada). During 3 consecutive high school years, students reported their behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement to school. Information on later dropout status was obtained through official records. RESULTS: Although many adolescents remained highly engaged in high school, one third reported changes, especially decreases in rule compliance, interest in school, and willingness to learn. Students reporting low engagement or important decrements in behavioral investment from the beginning of high school presented higher risks of later dropout. CONCLUSION: School-based interventions should address the multiple facets of high school experiences to help adolescents successfully complete their basic schooling. Creating a positive social-emotional learning environment promises better adolescent achievement and, in turn, will contribute to a healthier lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wow!! It's a big study, it's technically sophisticated, it's recent. It's Canadian.

4)Why Youths Drop Out of High School: The Impact of Preferences, Opportunities, and Abilities Zvi Eckstein and Kenneth I. Wolpin Econometrica, Vol. 67, No. 6 (Nov., 1999), pp. 1295-1339 Published by: The Econometric Society Stable URL: [7]

This one is good too. Not too old, cool sounding journal (guessing it's peer reviewed). It's going to be a little hard to follow because they seem to be saying that you have to study the decision making model that someone would use to decide to drop out of high school.

Group 4: Nick, Brooks, and Bobby

Dropping out of High School: The Role of School Organization and Structure Valerie E. Lee, David T. Burkam American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 (Summer, 2003), pp. 353-393 Published by: American Educational Research Association Stable URL: [8]

Policy, School Structure, and Sociodemographic Effects on Statewide High School Dropout Rates Kevin M. Fitzpatrick, William C. Yoels Sociology of Education, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Jan., 1992), pp. 76-93 Published by: American Sociological Association Stable URL: [9]

Influence of High School Size on Dropout Rate Robert B. Pittman, Perri Haughwout Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Vol. 9, No. 4 (Winter, 1987), pp. 337-343 Published by: American Educational Research Association Stable URL: [10]