Melding Organizational and Interactional Theories of Student Attrition: A Path Analytic Study

Abstract

Both organizational and interactional theoretical perspectives on student attrition have received empirical support. To clarify their conceptual confusion, this exploratory study estimates the effects of organizational attributes melded with interactional attributes on student attrition within the context of Tinto’s model. Path analysis indicates that while organizational attributes directly affect academic or social integration, they have no indirect effect on student withdrawal. This paper concludes with implications for further research and refinements of student attrition theory.