Doctoral Dissertation
Retention and Attrition in Online Classes: Challenges and Potentials
Author
Sabri G. Bebawi
Institution
Capella University
Year
2005
Database
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Abstract
This dissertation examines the factors contributing to student retention and attrition in online higher education. As online learning environments have expanded rapidly, institutions face significant challenges in understanding why students persist in or withdraw from virtual courses.
The study investigates the interplay of pedagogical, technological, social, and institutional variables that influence student persistence in online classes. Drawing on retention theory and distance education research, the work identifies both the obstacles that drive attrition and the conditions that support student success in online learning contexts.
Findings offer practical implications for instructional designers, faculty, and administrators seeking to improve completion rates and the quality of the online learning experience.
Key Themes
Student Retention
Factors that keep students enrolled and engaged in online courses — motivation, self-regulation, social presence, and institutional support.
Attrition & Withdrawal
Why students leave online courses — isolation, technical barriers, workload, and misaligned expectations about the online learning environment.
Online Pedagogy
How instructional design and teaching practices in virtual classrooms affect student persistence and learning outcomes.
Distance Education Theory
Theoretical frameworks — including Tinto's model of student departure and Moore's theory of transactional distance — applied to online contexts.
How to Cite
APA
Bebawi, S. G. (2005). Retention and attrition in online classes: Challenges and potentials (Publication No. 3179065) [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.
MLA
Bebawi, Sabri G. Retention and Attrition in Online Classes: Challenges and Potentials. Capella University, 2005. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, 3179065.
Chicago
Bebawi, Sabri G. "Retention and Attrition in Online Classes: Challenges and Potentials." PhD diss., Capella University, 2005. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (3179065).