Professional Documents
Culture Documents
in Education & Technology (IJARET) Vol. 3, Issue 3 (July - Sept. 2016) ISSN : 2394-6814 (Print)
Abstract
This study focuses on finding most significant causes of classroom absenteeism and also aims to explore its effect on performance of
the students. Data was collected through survey questionnaires to probe into the causes of absenteeism in Mathematics and Statistics
classes; given out to 78 undergraduate students. Data pertaining to their attendance during one full semester in the said subjects
and their performance at the end of that semester in the examination was collected from college office records. All student were also
personally interviewed to understand their viewpoint on absenteeism and their future career goals if any. The study revealed that
the most significant reasons for absenteeism were inconvenient timetable, early morning lecture timings, health problems and peer
pressure. Also important were their participation in extracurricular activities and sometimes a casual attitude towards life. It is
observed that the percentage of male and female students attending classes or missing them is not much different. It is also observed
that students without any specific career goal tend to miss classes more often than the ones with set goals. Also, significant positive
relationship was found between classroom attendance and examination performance.
Keywords
Absenteeism, Attendance, Examination Performance, Career Goal, Mathematics, Statistics
I. Introduction in classroom
Indian universities and colleges offer education to masses. B. To study the relation between absenteeism and gender.
Classroom teaching is an affordable and inexpensive means of C. To study the relation between absenteeism and career goal
teaching all over India. In this era of technological and electronic setting.
revolution, classroom teaching is still the most widely accepted D. To study the relation between absenteeism and examination
means of teaching in India. An important factor that makes performance.
classroom teaching ineffective is absenteeism of students in
classrooms. Mumbai University has a mandatory attendance III. Hypotheses of Study
policy for all its undergraduate courses. Yet it is observed that Following are the hypotheses formulated for the study:
many students are not very regular in attending classes. This causes H01: The two factors Absenteeism and Gender of the learner are
a problem for the educator. The teacher has to waste valuable independent.
and limited classroom time in re-teaching the students who have H02: The two factors Absenteeism and setting of career goal of
missed classes. Many times it is observed that students take turns the learner are independent.
to attend classes so that they get all the “notes”. This poses a great H03: Mean marks scored by the students with low attendance is same
problem of continuity for the teacher because his/her audience in as mean marks scored by the students with high attendance
the previous class is mostly absent and the current audience has
no knowledge of what was taught in previous class. For subjects IV. Population and Sample
like Mathematics and Statistics, classroom explanations are often This study is based on a random sample of size 78 from a population
the most effective method of imparting knowledge and enhancing of 250 students registered in the subjects of Mathematics and
problem solving skills. Absenteeism hampers the healthy teaching- Statistics in SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sion,
learning environment and affects the learning outcome adversely. It Mumbai.
leaves the teacher with a feeling of irritability and incompleteness.
This study focuses on finding significant causes of absenteeism of V. Methodology
undergraduate students in Mathematics and Statistics classrooms The methodology used in this study is descriptive survey method,
and attempts to explore the relationship between absenteeism and supported by personal interviews of students. Students were asked
student performance in examination. An initial discussion with to fill a questionnaire which was designed after a preliminary
students and teachers led us to mark a few reasons which may be discussion with students and teachers regarding absenteeism. It
significantly responsible for absenteeism. They included early or contains closed as well as open ended questions. A pilot study
inconvenient lecture timing, commuting from far off places, peer was first undertaken. After making suitable changes the final
pressure, illness and other activities. It was also noticed that many questionnaire was designed. It was followed by a personal
students were clueless about what they want to do after graduation. interaction with the students to enable them to express themselves
They had no or very vague career goals. It is generally believed more freely on issues like career goal setting in life. Data regarding
that girls are more sincere than boys, so they may be attending their attendance in the subjects of Mathematics and Statistics and
lectures more regularly. It is also perceived that students who miss their marks in the examination held at the end of the semester;
classes may not do well in the subsequent examination. Based on was collected from the college office.
the initial discussion, following objectives were arrived upon.
VI. Data Analysis
II. Objectives of Study: The possible reasons for absenteeism were grouped into 5 broad
A. To find out most significant causes of student absenteeism categories as follows.
Yule’s coefficient of association is 0. Hence we conclude that the Table 4: Z test to determine the relation between mean marks of
two factors absenteeism and gender are independent. students and their attendance
understand
• To set up student support mechanism to provide counselling
with regards to Career, Time and study management skills, and
ways to manage academic pressure in higher education.
• To Introduce students to Mathematical and Statistical
Software packages so as to augment interest in the subject
Acknowledgement
We gratefully acknowledge Mrs. Leela Subramanian of SIES
College, Statistics Department for her valuable guidance in this
study.
References
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