Abstract
This article examines some of the major variables associated with the “staying” and “leaving” process, particularly as it operates similarly or differentially for male and female adolescents. Sixty attitude statements about aspects of school, parents, peers, teachers, and value orientations were obtained from 796 adolescents and factor analyzed. This subset of independent variables, together with a set of personality and ability measures, was then used to predict “staying” or “leaving” status. The discriminant analysis was undertaken using “leaving” status and sex (LVSEX) as the dependent variable. Using a stepwise solution method of discriminant analysis, two significant functions were identified-the first suggesting a sex dimension, the second a stayer-leaver dimension.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlstrom, W. M., and Havighurst, R. M. (1971).400 Losers, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Australian Council of Trade Unions (1975).Survey of Young Workers: Research Report by Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Bachman, J. G. (1972). Dropouts are losers, says who?Today's Educ. 61(4): 26–31.
Bachman, J. G., Green, S., and Wirtanen, I. D. (1976).Youth in Transition. Volume III, Dropping Out — Problem or Symptom? Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Barker, R. G. (1952). Success and failure in the classroom.Progress. Educ. 19: 221–224.
Behrens, N. (1978). Schooling and work. In Commission of Inquiry into Poverty,School, Community and Work: Urban and Rural Aspects, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Birmingham Educational Development Centre (1971).Challenge and Change, Raising of the School Leaving Age, E.D.C. Project 1.
Brookover, W. B., Thomas, S., and Paterson, A. (1964). Self concept of ability and school achievement.Sociol. Educ. 37: 271–278.
Chilman, C. S. (1959). A comparative study of measured personality needs and self-perceived problems of ninth and tenth grade students: Half of the group possessing characteristics associated with early school leaving and the other half not possessing such characteristics. Doctoral dissertation, Syracuse University.
Committee on Higher Education (1963).Higher Education (The Robbins Report), H. M. Stationery Office, London.
Connell, W. F., Stroobant, R. E., Sinclair, K. E., Connell, R. W., and Rogers, K. W. (1975).12 to 20: Studies of City Youth, Hicks Smith & Sons, Sydney.
Cook, E. S., Jr. (1956). An analysis of factors related to withdrawal from high school prior to graduation.J. Educ. Res. 50: 191–196.
Coopersmith, S. (1967).The Antecedents of Self-Esteem, Freeman, San Francisco.
Douglas, J. W. B. (1964).The Home and the School, MacGibbon & Kee, London, pp. 124–126.
Duncan, B. (1965).Family Factors and School Dropouts: 1920–1960, Cooperative Research Project No. 2258, University of Michigan, U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Ann Arbor.
Elliot, D. S., Voss, H. L., and Wendling, A. (1966). Capable dropouts and the social milieu of the high school.J. Educ. Res. 60: 180–186.
Eysenck, S. B. G. (1965).Manual for the Junior Eysenck Personality Inventory, University of London Press, London.
Hallworth, H. J. (1961). Teachers' personality ratings of high school pupils.J. Educ. Psychol. 52: 297–302.
Halsey, A. H., and Gardner, L. (1953). Selection for secondary education and achievement in four grammar schools.Br. J. Social. 4: 60–75.
Hunt, T. C., and Clawson, E. H. (1975). Dropouts: then and now.Educ. Digest 51(1): 14–17.
Jackson, B., and Marsden, D. (1962).Education and the Working Class, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London.
Knight, T. (1977). Factors affecting school leaving and work decisions for girls. In Commission of Inquiry into Poverty,School Leavers: Choice and Opportunity, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Lancaster-Jones, F. (1967). A social ranking of Melbourne suburbs.Austral. New Zeal. J. Sociol. 3: 93–110.
Lichter, S., Rapien, E. B., Seibert, F. M., and Sklansky, M. A. (1962).The Dropouts, Free Press, New York.
Maccoby, E. E., and Jacklin, C. N. (1974).The Psychology of Sex Differences, Stanford University Press, Standford, Calif.
Miller, S. M., Saleem, B. L. and Bryce, H. (1964).School Dropouts: A commentary and Annotated Bibliography, Syracuse University Youth Development Center, Syracuse, N.Y.
Ministry of Education (1959).15–18: A Report of the Central Advisory Council for Education, Vols. I and II (The Crowther Report), H. M. Stationery Office, London.
Namenwirth, J. Z. (1969). Failing in New Haven: An analysis of high school graduates and dropouts.Soc. Forces 48: 23–36.
National Education Association, Research Division (1967).School Dropouts: Research Summary National Education Association, Washington, D.C.
Ozolins, U. (1974). Out of school. Master's thesis, University of Melbourne.
Poole, M. E. (1978). Identifying early school leaving.Austral. J. Educ. 22: 13–24.
Poole, M. E., and Simkin, K. (1976). Education and the 15 to 18 age group.Educ. News 15(6): 24–29.
Radford, W. C., and Wilkes, R. E. (1975).School Leavers in Australia, 1971–1972, Australian Council for Educational Research, Hawthorn, Victoria.
Reiss, A. J., Jr., and Rhodes, A. L. (1959).A Socio-Psychological Study of Conforming and Deviating Behavior Among Adolescents, Report of Project 507, State University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Richter, J., and Scandrette, O. (1971). Relationship between teacher personality ratings and student academic success.J. Educ. Res. 65: 127–131.
Rosier, M. J. (1978).Early School Leavers in Australia, IEA Monograph Series, No. 7, Almgvist and Wiksell, Stockholm.
Scales, H. H. (1969). Another look at the dropout problem.J. Educ. Res. 62: 339–343.
Swift, D. F. (1964). Who passes the Eleven Plus?New Soc. 5(3): 64.
Tesseneer, C. M., and Tesseneer, R. A. (1958). Review of the literature on school Dropouts.Bull. Natl. Assoc. Secondary School Principals 62: 141–153.
Thornburg, H. D. (1975). Attitudinal determinants in holding dropouts in school.J. Educ. Res. 68: 181–185.
Tinney, M., Benn, C., and O'Neill, J. (1974).The Luck of the Game: A Study of School Leavers in Melbourne Inner Suburban Schools. Brotherhood of St. Lawrence, Fitzry, Victoria.
Tseng, M. S. (1972). Comparisons of selected familial, personality, and vocational variables of high school students and dropouts.J. Educ. Res. 65: 462–466.
Warner, D. R. (1964). Scholastic abiltiy of school dropouts.School Life 40: 21–22.
Williams, P. V. (1963). School dropouts.NEA J. 52(2): 10–12.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received Ph.D. from La Trobe University. Current research interest is adolescent development.
Received Ph.D. from University of N.S. W. Current research interest is mathematical reasoning in adolescence.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poole, M.E., Low, B.C. Who stays? who leaves? an examination of sex differences in staying and leaving. J Youth Adolescence 11, 49–63 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537816
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537816