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Student Mental Health: Effects on Teacher Evaluations and Student Attrition

Ron Rivas, Paul Sauer, Judith Larkin and Harvey Pines

The BRC Academy Journal of Education

Volume 1

Number 2

Print ISSN: 2152-8756 Online ISSN: 2152-8780

Date: March 15, 2011

First Page 33

Last Page 53

Abstract

This research combines constructs from teacher evaluation models (D’Apollonia & Abrami, 1997; Gent, 1981; Marsh & Roche, 1997), constructs from student retention models (Tinto 1975) and constructs from a depression scale (Ratloff, 1985) to form a comprehensive model to verify underlying factors leading to student attrition. Key student retention constructs in our model include social integration, institutional commitment, goal commitment, academic integration and intent to persist, all derived from the Tinto model of student retention and used for many years as indicators of likelihood of student attrition at the university at which the study was conducted. Key teacher evaluation constructs in our model include classroom teaching and effectiveness, grading and feedback, and course preparation and organization, all based on a study by Gent and utilized for over 20 years at the university from which data was collected. A structural equation model was formulated to test the comprehensive model. The study used data collected in Spring, 2008 from undergraduate business and psychology majors that resulted in a sample size of 279.

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