Identifying the Necessary and Sufficient Number of Risk Factors for Predicting Academic Failure
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2012
Keywords
ROC curve, academic achievement, adolescence, risk of academic failure, school related risk factors
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0025939
Abstract
Identifying the point at which individuals become at risk for academic failure (grade point average [GPA] < 2.0) involves an understanding of which and how many factors contribute to poor outcomes. School-related factors appear to be among the many factors that significantly impact academic success or failure. This study focused on 12 school-related factors. Using a thorough 5-step process, we identified which unique risk factors place one at risk for academic failure. Academic engagement, academic expectations, academic self-efficacy, homework completion, school relevance, school safety, teacher relationships (positive relationship), grade retention, school mobility, and school misbehaviors (negative relationship) were uniquely related to GPA even after controlling for all relevant covariates. Next, a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine a cutoff point for determining how many risk factors predict academic failure (GPA < 2.0). Results yielded a cutoff point of 2 risk factors for predicting academic failure, which provides a way for early identification of individuals who are at risk. Further implications of these findings are discussed.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Developmental Psychology, v. 48, issue 2, p. 422-428
Scholar Commons Citation
Lucio, Robert; Hunt, Elizabeth; and Bornovalova, Marina, "Identifying the Necessary and Sufficient Number of Risk Factors for Predicting Academic Failure" (2012). Psychology Faculty Publications. 113.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/113
