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The Development of a Formal Research Study on Correlating Student Attendance to Student Success

Abstract

It is generally accepted that today's engineering technology students are very different from the students of 20 years ago. They are of the "digital age" and are assumed to have different learning styles than the traditional students of generations before, although one might suggest that the teaching methods of the past did not work well even for earlier generations. One of the long established tenets of teaching is that attendance in class leads to student success. A research study is being initiated to examine if this correlation currently exists and if so to what extent. This paper describes the formulation, methodology and design of this study to formally test the relationship of attendance with student success. This is the start of a formal five year research study to determine the impact of attendance in class, whether attendance has a correlation with student success, and does this correlation change during the progression of a student throughout their undergraduate experience. The study will involve students from Mechanical Engineering Technology, Computer Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Construction Management, and a service course to the general student body. Data will be derived from four different instructors who will teach approximately 20 classes per year ranging from freshman to senior students. One of the objectives of the study is to track an individual student over their entire undergraduate education. The study will also determine if this correlation changes as the student progresses.

Introduction

Today's students are fundamentally different than those from the past. They have more technology at their disposal to either support their studies or distract them from studying. These "digital age" students also exhibit different learning styles that can be traced back to their technology and its use. Few visit the library to do research, but they all search for information online. They spend more time staring at screens whether it is a computer, cell phone, PDA, IPod, television, or movie than they do reading books. Technology has changed their expectations along with their classroom experiences. Perhaps even their need to attend class.

It is generally accepted that attending class has a positive correlation with student success leading to a better understanding of the course material. Studies by Cohn and Johnson3 (2006); Davidovitch and Soen4 (2006); Moore7 (2003); White, Thomas, Johnson, and Hyde12 (2008); and many others have investigated the effects of class attendance and discovered supporting results. Class attendance was one of the factors that students control leading to academic success as examined by Dollinger, Matyja, and Huber5 (2008); Yudko, Hirokawa, and Chi13 (2008); and Webb, Christian, and Armitage11 (2007). Incentives, penalties, and motivators for attending class were considered by Brooks, Burton, Cole, Miles, Torgerson, and Torgerson2 (2008); Gump6 (2005); and Moore8 (2005).

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Richter, D., & Loendorf, W., & Durfee, J., & Geyer, T. (2009, June), The Development Of A Formal Research Study On Correlating Student Attendance With Student Success Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5099