Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors (Index of Abstracts)

The abstracts included here are based on the 1991 book by Nancy M. Hewitt and Elaine Seymour.   The report has been broken down into 6 six abstracts by subject area. Also abstracted is an article from The Scientist that refers to Hewitt and Seymour's study.

This report investigated what influenced students to leave or remain in science and engineering (S&E) majors. Interviews were conducted with 149 current and former S&E students at four institutions in one southwestern state.

The institutions varied by research prestige and by range of degrees granted, including:

  • two state universities (one a land-grant institution emphasizing vocational science majors)
  • a private university
  • a private liberal arts college (member of the "Oberlin group")

Note: The authors frequently use the following terms in their discussion: "Switcher" refers to undergraduate students who leave S&E majors but remain in college. "Non-switcher" refers to those who remain in their original S&E major.

 

  • Review of Findings: The Problem Iceberg (Abstract of Section)

    A review of the factors that contributed to the high attrition rates among science and engineering undergraduate majors. ( Abstracted from the overview section of the book Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors.)

  • The Problems of Women in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering (Abstract of Section)

    A discussion of the structural and cultural issues that contributed to the attrition of women students. Abstracted from the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors".

  • The Problems of Minority Group Students in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering (Abstract of Section)

    A discussion of the experiences of (separately) Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American S&E students, such as family backgrounds, high school preparation, acceptance and use of minority programs, and perceptions of problems encountered in school. Abstracted from the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors".

  • Persistence Strategies (Section Abstract)

    Students' assessment of the value of formal structures established to encourage retention by schools and departments, or across institutions as a whole. Drawn from the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors".

  • Students Speak Out: Quotes about Switching (Abstract of Section)

    Students' comments regarding their or their friends' departures from S&E majors. Drawn from the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors"

  • Student Quotes on Bad Teaching (Abstract of Section)

    Students' comments regarding their experiences with bad teaching in S&E courses. Drawn from the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors".

  • Schools Discourage Women Scientists (Abstract)

    This article, from The Scientist by Roger Johnson, comments on the teaching methods of college professors and how they affect male and female students disproportionately to switch into non-science majors. Specifically it relates to the book "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors"

Cite this page: "Factors Contributing to High Attrition Rates Among Science and Engineering Undergraduate Majors (Index of Abstracts)" Online Ethics Center for Engineering 7/12/2006 National Academy of Engineering Accessed: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 <www.onlineethics.org/Topics/Diversity/DiverseEssays/Abstracts/attrition.aspx>