Matthews-Whetstone, R., & Scott, J. A. (2015). Factors affecting bachelor’s degree completion among black males with prior attrition. Research in Higher Education Journal,28, 1.

Black males lag behind their female counterparts in bachelor’s degree completion. This study examined why Black males leave higher education, eventually return, and complete their degrees. This study examined three questions: 1. What causes Black males to discontinue their postsecondary degrees and leave college? 2. What factors influence their decisions to return to postsecondary education? 3. What factors help or hinder them in completing their degrees? This study used a phenomenological approach. Ten participants agreed to 30-minute interviews at which the researcher took extensive notes which were later coded to identify themes. Results showed that the majority of participants had spent 10 or more years engaged in higher education. The time to degree ranged from a low of 5 years to a high of 27 years. An interesting finding emerged related to the participants’ choice of institutions. Participants who stayed at 4-year institutions experienced shorter time to degree completion than those who enrolled at 2-year institutions.

Full article can be found here:

http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/142064.pdf