Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

High school dropouts -- Middle West -- Prevention; High school students -- Middle West -- Attitudes; Social participation; Middle West; Academic theses;

Abstract

Researchers have worked for years to decrease rates of student dropout by identifying associated factors, and developing strategies to increase school success. Despite these efforts, dropout is a complicated phenomenon, making it difficult to effectively support students. There is a body of literature concerning the connection between students' sense of belonging and its relationship to dropout. This literature is reviewed in light of the effect teachers, parents, peers, and personal characteristics have on belonging and dropout. A second body of research concerning how the physical environment of schools as behavior settings affects student outcomes is also discussed. A survey was conducted with high school students to explore how these two domains can be brought together to explain student belonging and high school dropout. The research questions included (1) what factors contribute to students' feelings of connectedness and belonging to their school? (2) how does the school's social and physical environment influence students' sense of belonging?

Year of Submission

2009

Degree Name

Specialist in Education

Department

Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations

First Advisor

Kimberly Knesting

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this dissertation or thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

2009

Object Description

1 PDF file (61 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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Education Commons

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