Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Agricultural and Extension Education and Evaluation
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
The primary purpose of this study was to determine the influence of selected academic and personal demographic characteristics on student success at a NAACLS-accredited medical laboratory science program in the southern portion of the United States.
Both academic and demographic categories were selected on students who entered the medical laboratory science program from 2014 to 2019 (pre-COVID). The sanitized, archived data set was provided by the MLS department and the registrar and student affairs office at the participating school. The extant data set contained academic and demographic variables, collected over a five-year period, of initially over 170 accepted MLS students.
The target population was students enrolled in a medical laboratory science program in the southern portion of the Unites States. The sample, both accessible and drawn, were students enrolled in one cohort at a medical laboratory science program in the south.
The primary statistical method used for this study was a multiple discriminant analysis model. The results of this study suggested three statistically significant variables that could offer insight into a student’s performance while enrolled in a MLS program.
The majority of the medical laboratory science students were white, female, not married, a United States citizen, and not of New Orleans origin. The majority also reported attending more than one college or university and not having a previous degree awarded. A total of three significant independent variables: Hispanic, math score, and age at application, entered into a significant discriminate model. The research results indicated that these three significant independent variables: Hispanic, math score, and age at application were the most influential factors associated with degree completion.
The researcher recommends that additional studies be performed, focusing primarily on students that did not graduate. The researcher also recommends replicating the study at other medical laboratory science schools across the United States. The researcher also recommends researching a dataset that is specific to the COVID pandemic. The possible demographic, academic, and non-cognitive combinations of variables could open doors for many other additional research projects.
Date
7-2-2025
Recommended Citation
Hovis, Warren, "Predictive Indicators for Graduation upon Acceptance into a NAACLS-Approved Medical Laboratory Science Program" (2025). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6834.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6834
Committee Chair
Burnett, Michael
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.6834