Sociodemographic Factors that affect the Retention of University Entrants: An Exploratory Study in the Bachelor of Psychology at the National University of Córdoba (UNC)

Abstract

The university dropout rates have increased, despite the actions implemented by different areas. These actions are, in general, common for all institutions, without considering the particularity of each one of them. Furthermore, these actions begin from the understanding desertion as rather simple, acting on some risk factors, and ignoring others or those that are protective against failure and point to student´s retention. Addressing student retention factors is a priority, in order to generate policies that lead towards greater inclusion. In order to relate the sociodemographic variables and the permanence in the studies of the university entrants to the Faculty of Psychology of the National University of Córdoba (Argentina), a questionnaire was elaborated and distributed to 1,779 new entrants to the Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, in 2019 academic year. Data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS program. The results showed that the variables that contribute to student retention and avoid dropping out are having a mother with experience in higher education, living without parents, having attended secondary school continuously (without interruptions) and having completed secondary school within the formally established deadlines, appear as factors that (among others detailed in this paper) contribute to retention and prevent dropout. Several actions are suggested for implementation in the Faculty of Psychology as a result of the findings.