ERIC Number: ED536754
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 25
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: ISBN-978-1-9220-5610-8
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
An Analysis of Self-Reported Graduates. Technical Paper
Braysher, Ben
National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
The annual Student Outcomes Survey collects information on the outcomes of two groups of students--those that have completed a qualification (graduates) and those that have completed only part of a course and then left the vocational education and training (VET) system (module completers). At the time of selecting the survey sample, insufficient information is available to identify "actual" module completers. Instead, a sample of potential module completers is drawn that includes students still in training and students who self-report that they have completed the qualification; that is, self-reported graduates. For many years these students have been counted as graduates in survey outputs. This paper examines whether: (1) self-reported graduates were eligible for the qualifications they claimed (in fact, around two-thirds were not eligible); and (2) it is possible to predict a self-reported graduate's eligibility for the claimed qualification using their personal and training characteristics. The report recommends that self-reported graduates should be assigned to the graduate or module completer category using a predictive model. This model incorporates information on the type of training provider, field of education, level of qualification, whether an apprentice or trainee, enrolment type, and method of answering the survey. The current practice of treating self-reported graduates biases the survey results. The predictive model will be used for 2012 Student Outcomes Survey reporting. The methodology will change estimates from previous surveys substantially, so these will be back cast to 2005 using the method described. Appended are: (1) Characteristics of self-reported graduates; (2) Variables fitted and their status in the final logistic model; (3) Regression results; (4) Comparison of self-reported graduates' eligibility for the claimed qualification; and (5) Comparison of survey outputs and modelled estimates. (Contains 16 tables and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Qualifications, Eligibility, Vocational Education, Graduates, Institutional Characteristics, Graduate Surveys, Graduation Requirements, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Models, Predictive Validity, Predictive Measurement, Measurement Objectives, Measurement Techniques, Academic Persistence, Evaluation Methods, Evaluation Research
National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd. P.O. Box 8288, Stational Arcade, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Tel: +61-8-230-8400; Fax: +61-8-212-3436; e-mail: ncver@ncver.edu.au; Web site: http://www.ncver.edu.au
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Adult Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Centre for Vocational Education Research
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A