Flight Student’s Persistence

Ali Ousmane Mahamane

AVN 3700-Transportation AnalysisUniversity of Nebraska Omaha

Research Process Overview

• Research Question• Literature Review• Hypothesis Development• Logic Model• Methodology• Limitations• Questions

Research Question

• Theoretical standpoint:– Persistence is the ability to stay in a program, in

spite of the hardships.

• Persistence: – Probability of completing a certificate– The student determination to earn the certificate

Research Question

• Practical standpoint:– Not quiet observable– Variables changing

• What variables are affecting flying students persistence?

Literature review

• Ethnicity – Asians >Whites >Hispanic >African-American

• Finance– + income family have, + graduation rates

• Educational assistance– Home, University (Math Lab, Writing & Speech)

• Colleges management– Federal funds, programs reliability

Literature review

• Gender– Male > Female

• Grade Point Average• Experience– Hours logged– Part 61 (40 Hrs Private and 250 Hrs Comm.)– Part 141(35 Hrs Private and 190 Hrs Comm.)

Hypothesis Development

• Null hypothesis– A student is persistent– No relation between the variables

• In real life students drop out, others stay.– Reject the null hypothesis

Logic Model

• Sample– UNO Flight students, flight team members.

• Timeframe– Relative to the pilot certificate– 90 days, 12 weeks for the private– 200 days, 29 weeks for the commercial– Accurate data on attendance, other time related

variables

Logic Model

• Dependent variable– Time to graduate• Semesters, courses• Students & Academic advisor authorization

– Certificate completion rate• Progression• Break the down the steps to earn the license• Ground class, flight class, flight hours, assessments,

medical currency and others

Logic Model

• Independent variables– Finance• Personal funds, financial aid• Interview the student • cross-sectional study

– Weekly flying hours• # hours per week, longitudinal study• Flight provider and student authorization

Logic Model

• Independent variable– Attendance• Percentage of class attended• Longitudinal study• Flight instructor and student interview

– Gender• Male or female

– Race• Asian, White, Hispanic, Black

Methodology

• From student information & literature– Create variables– Scale for the variable– Assess the relation of data to graduation rate– Assign a coefficient to the variable– Product of the variables coefficient

Methodology

• Nomenclature– Funds -> FND– Hours -> HRS– Attendance -> ATD– Gender -> GDR

Methodology

• Note:– The coefficient are not applicable to the UNO sample. A

well conducted study will provide specific coefficient to the sample of the research.

– Coefficients from my own analysis of the topic based on the literature review

Methodology

• Race and RCE variable Race RCE ScaleAsians 2Whites 1Hispanics .7African-Americans .5

Methodology

• Gender and GDR ScaleGender GDR Scale

Male 1

Female .5

Methodology

• Weekly flying hours and HRS ScaleNumber of hours per session HRS Scale4 33 22 11 .10 .01

Methodology

• Attendance and ATD ScaleAttendance in percentage ATD Scale

100 175 .7550 .525 .250 0

Methodology

• Funds and FND ScaleStudents funds FND Scale

$10,000 to $9,000 4

$9,000 to $8,000 3

$8,000 to $7,000 2

$7,000 to $6,000 1

$6,000 to $5,000 .5

$5,000 to $4,000 .25

$4,000 to $3,000 .1

$3,000 to $0 .01

Methodology

• Compute the FND, HRS,ATD, GDR and RCE values

• Persistence = FND*ATD*GDR*RCE*HRS

Limitations

• Data on student’s funds– Personal information– Sharing issue

• Accessing the student’s credential– Written authorization of the student– Institutions collaboration

• Meeting with the student– Explain the research process– How important the data – Institutions, flight providers will benefit

Limitations

• Family Education Rights & Privacy Act– Subpart B: inspection and review student’s records

• Omission of other variable– weather, sickness and others. – Model valid if Ceteris Paribus