Student’s factors that promote student retention in a technological higher education institute
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-2392Keywords:
Student retention, student persistence, educational retention, student dropout, student attrition, academic failure, higher education, university studentsAbstract
Introduction: The aim of the research was to determine which student factors promote retention in a Peruvian technological higher education institute. Methodology: The study was non-experimental, quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational. The validated instrument by Velázquez and González (2017) was adapted. A survey was conducted with 1,140 students, achieving a sample with a 95% confidence level and a 1.9% margin of error. Results: The exploratory factor analysis eliminated the economic conditions variable and reduced the indicators from 11 to 7, and the items from 71 to 44. The student retention variable reduced its items from 7 to 4, and the uninterrupted trajectory indicator was removed. Finally, the confirmatory factor analysis validated the model and its structure. Discussion: The variables associated with student retention are commitment (personal commitment to study and institutional commitment), attitude and behavior (academic integration and social and family interaction), and motivation (intrinsic). Conclusions: The study's hypothesis was partially confirmed, except for the socioeconomic conditions variable, which was excluded. The most important indicator is personal commitment to study. Institution commitment, academic integration, and intrinsic motivation are also significant.
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