Date of Award

1996

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Human Resource Education and Workforce Development

First Advisor

Betty C. Harrison

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive research study was to determine the existence of predictors for success of nursing students who are granted appeals, based on special circumstances, by the University Progression and Retention Committee of Southeastern Louisiana University. This study investigated demographics (age, marital status, gender, race, residence, semester of appeal, and educational background) of 302 nursing students from Southeastern Louisiana University (January 1988, to May 1995) that appealed to the Progression and Retention Committee of the university to continue in the nursing program. Success predictor criteria provided to nursing faculty and students can be used as a positive resource so that the nursing students and faculty can reach their goals of student graduation and licensure as a professional nurse. All students with appeals granted were followed and information concerning their success was investigated. The continuous variables were analyzed using t-tests and discriminant analysis. The categorical variables were studied using Chi-square and discriminant analysis. According to the findings, most students appealing were white, single or divorced females, 20-24 years old, living in metropolitan areas. Little or no variation existed in the mean ACT scores of students filing an appeal, and remediation did not appear to be a factor in students' appeals and graduation status. Mean GPAs of students filing for appeal that had other degrees were lower than students appealing without other degrees. Mean GPAs for students filing and granted appeals had increases in GPA between appeal and graduation or they were dropped from the program. Chi-square analysis indicated that none of the variables analyzed were independent of graduation status. The t-test analyses of continuous variables (age, ACT scores, pre-nursing GPA on required courses, and GPA at appeal) indicated no significant difference between the variables and graduation status. Discriminant analysis identified widowed, married, remediation, reason for appeal and GPA at appeal as significant predictors of appealing students' graduation success or failure. A prediction model was developed. The percent of 'grouped' cases correctly classified was 76.3%.

ISBN

9780591035001

Pages

108

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.6174

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