Exam Absence Survey:
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Exam Absence Survey:Preliminary Analysis & Findings
Presented at the Extended Management Committee
2 February 2010Professor George Subotzky
Executive Director: Information & Strategic Analysis
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Acknowledgements
The following staff members of DISA were involved in design, administration & analysis of this survey:– Hanlie Liebenberg: design– Yuraisha Chetty: design & oversight– Lerato Tladi: design, implementation, data
analysis & preparation of presentation– George Subotzky: design, interpretation &
presentation– Pam Pistorius: admin support
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Introduction & Background• Efforts to improve Unisa’s course success rates
are thwarted not only by failure, but also attrition prior to writing
• Analyses have shown that up to 10% of students are admitted to exams, but for a variety of reasons do not write
• At the final signoff meeting for the exam results of the 2009 Oct/Nov sitting, it was decided to investigate the reasons for this
• Accordingly, DISA was requested to design and conduct a survey to do this and to report by the end of January
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Conceptual Framework & Method• At the heart of the Success & Retention model
lies the assumption that non-academic factors impact as much, if not more than academic ones one student success
• Accordingly, the survey was designed to investigate all probable reasons for exam absence – both academic & non-academic
• 13 questions & 158 items• Relevant students were identified
– Problem of not being able to distinguish absentees from results outstanding, practical & PG students)
• Survey notification sent by e-mail & SMS with link to access electronic survey
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Focus
• Preliminary analysis – focusing on main findings
• Subsequent analysis – focusing on relationship between variables and background demographics
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Response Rate
• Survey population (13 Jan): 27 299• Response rate (25 Jan): 2 359 (8,7%) (full)• Response rate (2 Feb):
– Total responses: 5 105 (19,0%)– Full responses: 3 747 (13,7%)
• This represents a remarkably high response rate
• Frantic responses from many students – part of the findings
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Full-Time (Study only) Part-Time (Work and Study)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
5.7%
94.3%
Mode of Study
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Academ
ic Fact
ors
Non-ac
adem
ic fact
ors
Factor
s with
in yo
ur con
trol
Factor
s bey
ond y
our c
ontro
l0%
20%
40%
60%
11.2% 16.0% 15.9%
56.9%Reasons for Exam Absence
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Very well prepared
Somewhat prepared
A little prepared
Not at all prepared
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
25.3%
37.4%
17.7% 19.7%
Exam Preparedness
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Inadequate feedback on assignments
Did not understand the study material
Did not know what to expect in the examination
Wasn't motivated to write
Lacked confidence to write
Insufficient study time
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
5.0%
9.8%
10.4%
11.3%
24.9%
38.5%
Reasons for Exam Unpreparedness
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Participated in on-line study/discussion groups
Participated in face-to-face study/discussion groups
Used additional material/sources beyond the prescribed study material
Memorized the study material
Drew up a study timetable
Worked through previous examination papers
Summarized the study material
Used the prescribed textbook (where applicable)
Read the study material
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%
1.2%
1.2%
7.5%
8.1%
9.3%
10.9%
16.3%
22.3%
23.2%
Exam Study Methods
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Yes No
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
41.3%
58.7%Needed More Academic Support
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
29.2%
70.8%
Tried to Contact Lecturer
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Lecturer previously uninterested or unwilling to help
Did not know the lecturer
Lecturer previously unavailable
Did not think that it would be useful
Did not have the time to contact the lecturer
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
6.8%
9.1%
17.6%
30.7%
35.8%
Why Lecturer was not Contacted
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Contacted the lecturer after hours
Contacted the lecturer in person (face-to-face)
Contacted the lecturer by letter
Received satisfactory support
Contacted the lecturer via myUnisa
Contacted the lecturer during the afternoon
Contacted the lecturer during the morning
Received unsatisfactory support
Contacted the lecturer via e-mail
Contacted the lecturer by telephone
The lecturer was not available
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%1.0%
1.0%
1.1%
4.9%
5.4%
6.2%
9.1%
10.2%
17.7%
18.2%
25.3%
Experience with Contacting Lecturer
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Yes No Don't know0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
40.4%
21.4%
38.2%
Tutorial Classes Offered
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
17.0%
83.0%
Attended Tutorial Classes
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Helpful Not Helpful0%
20%
40%
60%
80%70%
30%
Tutorial Class Ratings
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No information about the times/venues
Did not think that attending classes would be helpful
No transport money
Far or inaccessible location of the venue
Tutorial class times were not convenient
No time to attend tutorial classes
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
1.8%
2.7%
7.8%
23.0%
25.7%
38.9%
Reasons for not Attending Tutorials
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
26.8%
73.2%
Needed Counselling Support
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
19.4%
80.6%
Contacted Unisa's Counselling Services
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Didn't have the time Didn't think it would be useful
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
45.9%54.1%
Why Counselling Services not Contacted
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Received satisfactory support
Contacted Unisa by telephone
Contacted Unisa during the afternoon
Contacted Unisa during the morning
Contacted Unisa after hours
Contacted Unisa via e-mail
Received unsatisfactory report
Tried to contact but didn't succeed
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%1.7%
4.2%
8.9%
9.3%
13.5%
16.0%
19.0%
27.4%
Experience with Counselling Services
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
28.2%
71.8%
Consulted Anyone Regarding Exam Decision
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
39.5%
60.5%
Received Advice Influenced Exam Decision
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Religious leaderUnisa tutor
Unisa CounsellorPrivate psychologist/psychiatrist
Unisa LecturerOther students
Colleagues at workEmployer
Medical doctorFriendsFamily
0% 5% 10%15%20%25%30%35%1.1%1.5%2.1%2.8%
4.9%7.3%
9.6%10.9%
13.3%15.0%
31.6%
Person Consulted for Exam Advice
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
49.8% 50.2%
Had Enough Study Time
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Yes No0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70% 64.7%
35.3%
Spent Sufficient Time Studying
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Did not receive the study materials at all
Social life interfered with my studies
Did not receive the study materials in time
Did not have enough study leave
Domestic responsibilities interfered with my studies
Work responsibilities interfered with my studies
0% 5% 10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%
.8%
3.9%
8.1%
17.5%
24.1%
45.5%
Reasons for Insufficient Study Time
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Course did not cover the topics I thought it would cover
Course was not relevant to my future work/career
Not interested in the study material
Social life distracted me
Did not feel motivated to study
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
4.6%
8.0%
11.0%
24.8%
51.5%
Reasons for not Studying Enough
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Wrong info about venueNo transport money
Was late (my own fault)Wrong exam timeWrong exam date
Was late (unreliable transport)
Was late(other reasons) My social life
IllnessDomestic responsibilities
Work responsibilities
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%.8%
1.1%
1.4%
1.6%
2.0%
2.4%
2.5%
4.3%
18.6%
21.2%
44.1%Other Factors: Exam Absence
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Yes No0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%82.4%
17.6%
Strong Consequences for Exam Absence
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Family would withdraw financial and other support
Lecturer would be disappointed
Employer would not provide another opportunity to write
Employer would withdraw financial and other support
Other financial support would be lost
Employer would be disappointed
Family would be disappointed
I would be disappointed in myself
The completion of my studies would be postponed
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
2.3%
2.9%
3.0%
5.3%
5.7%
7.4%
11.7%
28.3%
33.4%
Perceived Consequences of Exam Absence
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Employer would continue to support me financially and otherwise
Employer would provide another oportunity for me to write
Family would continue to support me financially and otherwise
Employer would understand
Family would understand
Was not concerned as I could simply write again at the next Unisa examination
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
5.2%
6.1%
7.6%
10.3%
24.2%
46.6%
Why There Would Be No Strong Consequences
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Better counselling support
Better access to counselling support
Better lecturer support
Better access to lecturer support
Better tutorial support
Better access to tutorial support
More general encouragement and support
Earlier distribution of study material
Better study material
Clearer information on exam requirements
Clearer information on exam times and venues
0% 5% 10% 15% 20%4.8%
6.7%
8.0%
8.7%
10.5%
8.8%
9.9%
14.5%
9.3%
15.5%
3.4%Unisa Exam Support