Data Analysis Techniques For Examining Factors Influencing Student'S Enrollment Decision

SEA - Practical Application of Science
Volume III, Issue 2 (8) / 2015
Ionela MANIU
ASE researcher ,“Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu
George C. MANIU
ASE researcher ,“Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu
Empirical
DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES studies
FOR EXAMINING FACTORS
INFLUENCING STUDENT’S
ENROLLMENT DECISION
Keywords
Data analysis techniques
Student’s enrolment decision
Influence factors
JEL Classification
I29
Abstract
This research was conducted to explore the data analysis techniques applied for analysis of factors which have
significant impact on the student’s attitude behind enrollment decision. Data on which such techniques are
applied are collected from first year students or last year high school pupils via survey. The results have
shown that the most used data analysis techniques are: descriptive statistics, comparing means techniques,
correlation, regression, ANOVA, factor analysis, Cronbach alpha. Findings of this study are likely to worn
and help higher education institutions to increase institutional knowledge about student’s enrollment decision
by results obtained from the application of these techniques, and can be relied to provide a solid base for
action (policy and practice development).
61
Introduction influencers on student decision – in order to reduce

This paper gives an overview of data analysis them to fewer latent variables / groups of variables
techniques, particularly on how are they used in / factors (not directly measured but represent
various research applied for analysis of factors variables). This technique requires normality within
which have significant impact on the student’s the data, a linear relationship between variables –
attitude behind enrollment decision. in order to compute correlation. The coefficient of
correlation is used to test the relationship between
A map of student surveys decision factors and inter item correlation to test
First year student surveys are administrated for the multi / co linearity between variables.
more than 40 years (CIRP Freshman Survey, since Regression analysis is used to analyze the
1966, more then 400 institutions) and serve as a relationship between items/ factors determining if
resource for research on entering first year students the independent variable can explain the variance
covering a broad array of issues: demographic of the dependent one.
characteristics, high school experiences, reasons for
attending HEI, student’s attitudes, perspectives/ Discussion / conclusion
plans /aspirations /expectations, experiences, Exploratory factor analysis conducted by Wilkins,
beliefs, finances, etc. Figure 1 shows the usefulness S. on 52 items indicates six factors(accounted 60%
of applying these surveys. of total variance): financial issues, entertainment
Most surveys examine, in addition to general data and atmosphere, institution quality and reputation,
(age, gender, environment, high school, career and work issues, country reputation and
specialization), minimum 20 items using: Lickert foreign experiences. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient
scales (3,5,7 steps), hierarchy questions (1-10, 1-5), was then computed for each factor in order to test
open questions. Most of this items aim to identify internal consistency.
influencing factors and sources of information Multiple regression analysis was used by Hans
which prospective students take into account in Vossensteyn to test the hypotheses that the student
higher education enrollment decision process. Also, socio-economic background influences the price
there may be items used to evaluate student’s perception.
satisfaction, expectations on university studies. This study wants to underline that there isn’t a
single data analysis technique that is going in the
Data analysis techniques mind of researchers when examining the factors
Table 1 presents an overview of methods for data that influence the students when making the
analysis used in literature, methods that include decision choice, there are multiple methods that can
combinations of descriptive statistics to determine be used.
the importance of various factors and usefulness of
information sources, and inferential statistics for Aknowledgement
statistical hypothesis testing. This work was supported from the European Social
Frequency or/and means of comparing is used in Fund trough Sectorial Operational Programme
order to identify the relative importance of choice Human Resources Development 2007-2013,
factors and usefulness of information sources. project number POSDRU/159/1.5/S/134197,
To check the difference regarding the importance project title “Performance and excellence in
of choice factors in case of students from different Postdoctoral Research in Romanian Economics
academic institutions, between different groups of Science Domain”, coordinator The Bucharest
students, can be used: means of comparing items, t University of Economic Studies.
test, ANOVA (in case of normality of the
data)/MANOVA (in case of differences between Reference list
groups collectively), Kruskal-Wallis (in case of [1]Anghel L., Orindaru A., (2014) “Measuring
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groups of studenst. This test measures the Sciences and Arts SGEM 2014
difference between the actual cell scores and the http://www.researchgate.net/publication/27223711
expected one in a crosstabs table. 9_MEASURING_STUDENTS%27_SATISFACTI
The Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient is ON_AS_PART_OF_THE_MARKETING_HIGHE
generally used in the choice factors scale, R_EDUCATION_STRATEGIES
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internal consistency reliability. Determinanții orientării academice a studenților de
Factor analysis is conducted on measurable anul I, Raport de cercetare [Determinants of
variables (ordinal or continuous but also on academic orientation of first year students,
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62
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[3]Case Western Reserve University, 2010 [8]Rashkov, A., (2010) Doctoral thesis
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63
Appendices
Figure 1. Usefulness of surveys
Table No.1
Data analysis techniques
Country Author / Desc. Mean λ2 Regression Correlation ANOVA / Factor Cronbach
Year Stat. comp. MANOVA analysis alpha
USA Gray, M., *
2004 Daugherty,
M.
2005 Oregon * *
State
2010 Case *
Western
Reserve
2013 Mout Saint * *
Mary’s
UK Wilkins, * * * *
2013 S., et al.
Netherlands Vossenstey * * * * * *
2005 n H.
Denmark Rashkov, * * * * *
2010 A.
South Wiese et * * * *
Africa 2009 al.
Malaezia Ming J.
2013
Pakistan Waseem * * * * *
2012 N., et al
Romania Balan, C., *
2013 et al.
2014 Anghel, L., * *
Orindaru,
A.
64

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SEA - Practical Application of Science

Volume III, Issue 2 (8) / 2015

Introduction influencers on student decision – in order to reduce

Figure 1. Usefulness of surveys

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