Step-outs to stars: Engineering retention framework

Abstract

This research paper, grounded in Expectancy-Value Theory, investigates the relationship between interest, first semester GPA and first year retention in engineering. The research resulted in a purposefully parsimonious framework that can be readily implemented to provide useful discrimination for predicting retention, and can be used when investigating other factors related the retention. Quadrants based on interest were created based on results from logistic regression analysis which showed a difference in the probability of retention between students with equal, less, or no interest in engineering compared to other fields, and those with only or more interest in engineering. GPA quadrants were created based on average GPA. The usefulness of the framework is demonstrated by investigating gender as a variable. The analysis showed a difference of retention rate between males and females only in the quadrant with high grades and low interest.