A Cohort Analysis of Student Attrition in Manufacturing and Engineering Technologist and Technician Education Programs

This 20-page paper, by Janet Washborn of Wisconsin's Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was written to explore "patterns of and influences in student attrition in manufacturing and engineering technologist and technician education programs." In hopes of uncovering these patterns and influences, Washborn approached her research with two questions: 1. "Are there differences in demographic, educational attainment, work status, and economic background between students who leave and those who persist?" and 2. "Can we identify a set of empirically-based indicators of enrollment behavior, academic achievement, and course-taking behavior that differentiate leavers from persisters?" 

Results from the study varied, but include key points such as: the fact that there are "no significant differences across a range of sociodemographic characteristics between leavers and persisters," and that "leavers struggle more academically than do persisters."