Beyond our control?: Pre-tertiary bridging program students' perceptions of factors that affect their progress with study

Abstract

The general purpose of the research study reported here was to gather students’ perceptions of factors which influenced their progress with Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP) studies at the University of Southern Queensland. A considerable body of research has been published on factors that affect the progression of undergraduate students. No similar studies with pre-tertiary bridging program students have been found in the literature. The main methodology employed in the study was analysis of data gathered by the use of a self-report questionnaire. Construction of the questionnaire was based on the outcomes of a study, undertaken by the author and a colleague in 2004-5, of factors which influence undergraduate student progression. The questionnaire was delivered to all students enrolled in the core course TPP7120 in a sample of semesters in a sample of years from 2006 to 2009. The results of the study reported here indicate that factors perceived by students to have most strongly influenced them to discontinue their studies were those relating to personal circumstances that were beyond the control of the course teaching team or the University. Factors which were perceived by students to have most strongly influenced them to continue included factors related to personal volition, social/family support, institutional support, and the quality of the teaching-learning experience. Based on the results of the study, suggestions are made as to how retention rates in pre-tertiary bridging programs could be increased