AFFECTING STUDENT DROP OUT FROM THE UNIVERSITY INTRODUCTORY PHYSICS COURSE, fjCLUDING THE ANOMALY OF THE ONTARIO DOUBLE COHORT

摘要

This article uses data from Ontario and the two-semester, introductory course at Trent University (Physics 100) to discuss a number of possible factors affecting the student drop-out rate including the following: academic preparation from high school, student motivation and work habits, changes in high-school assessment practices, high-school grade inflation, sender balance, living in residence, and working together on assignments. One must remember that these data show correlations, not causal relationships, but they can still be used for guidance in improving student performance The paper has two major components. The first is a review of the drop-out rate from the 1980's to the present with a discussion of the probable factors affecting it. The second component gives the results of a recent student survey that explores potential reasons for dropping the course at the present time,. This article is an abridged, updated version of a recent paper in the Canadian Journal of Physics, which contains most of the original figures and data.