Exam Absence Survey:
Preliminary Analysis & Findings
Presented at the
Extended Management Committee
2 February 2010
Professor George Subotzky
Executive Director: Information & Strategic Analysis
Acknowledgements
The following staff members of DISA were involved in
design, administration & analysis of this survey:
– Hanlie Liebenberg: design
– Yuraisha Chetty: design & oversight
– Lerato Tladi: design, implementation, data analysis &
preparation of presentation
– George Subotzky: design, interpretation &
presentation
– Pam Pistorius: admin support
Introduction & Background
• Efforts to improve Unisa’s course success
rates are thwarted not only by failure, but
also attrition prior to writing
• Analyses have shown that up to 10% of
students are admitted to exams, but for a
variety of reasons do not write
• At the final signoff meeting for the exam
results of the 2009 Oct/Nov sitting, it was
decided to investigate the reasons for this
• Accordingly, DISA was requested to design
and conduct a survey to do this and to report
by the end of January
Conceptual Framework & Method
• At the heart of the Success & Retention model lies the
assumption that non-academic factors impact as much, if
not more than academic ones one student success
• Accordingly, the survey was designed to investigate all
probable reasons for exam absence – both academic &
non-academic
• 13 questions & 158 items
• Relevant students were identified
– Problem of not being able to distinguish absentees from results
outstanding, practical & PG students)
• Survey notification sent by e-mail & SMS with link to
access electronic survey
Focus
• Preliminary analysis – focusing on main
findings
• Subsequent analysis – focusing on
relationship between variables and
background demographics
Response Rate
• Survey population (13 Jan):
27 299
• Response rate (25 Jan):
2 359 (8,7%) (full)
• Response rate (2 Feb):
– Total responses:
5 105 (19,0%)
– Full responses:
3 747 (13,7%)
• This represents a remarkably high response rate
• Frantic responses from many students – part of the
findings
Mode of Study
100%
94.3%
80%
60%
40%
20%
5.7%
0%
Full-Time (Study only)
Part-Time (Work and Study)
Reasons for Exam Absence
56.9%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
11.2%
16.0%
15.9%
0%
Academic
Factors
Non-academic Factors within
Factors
factors
your control beyond your
control
Exam Preparedness
40%
30%
37.4%
25.3%
20%
17.7%
19.7%
10%
0%
Very well
prepared
Somewhat
prepared
A little
prepared
Not at all
prepared
Reasons for Exam Unpreparedness
Insufficient study time
38.5%
Lacked confidence to write
24.9%
Wasn't motivated to write
11.3%
Did not know what to expect in the
examination
10.4%
Did not understand the study
material
9.8%
Inadequate feedback on
assignments
5.0%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Exam Study Methods
Read the study material
23.2%
Used the prescribed textbook (where
applicable)
22.3%
Summarized the study material
16.3%
Worked through previous examination
papers
10.9%
Drew up a study timetable
9.3%
Memorized the study material
8.1%
Used additional material/sources beyond the
prescribed study material
7.5%
Participated in face-to-face study/discussion
groups
1.2%
Participated in on-line study/discussion
groups
1.2%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Needed More Academic Support
58.7%
60%
40%
41.3%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Tried to Contact Lecturer
80%
70.8%
60%
40%
29.2%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Why Lecturer was not Contacted
Did not have the time to contact the
lecturer
35.8%
Did not think that it would be useful
30.7%
Lecturer previously unavailable
17.6%
Did not know the lecturer
9.1%
Lecturer previously uninterested or
unwilling to help
6.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Experience with Contacting Lecturer
The lecturer was not available
25.3%
Contacted the lecturer by telephone
18.2%
Contacted the lecturer via e-mail
17.7%
Received unsatisfactory support
10.2%
Contacted the lecturer during the morning
9.1%
Contacted the lecturer during the afternoon
6.2%
Contacted the lecturer via myUnisa
5.4%
Received satisfactory support
4.9%
Contacted the lecturer by letter
1.1%
Contacted the lecturer in person (face-to-face)
1.0%
Contacted the lecturer after hours
1.0%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Tutorial Classes Offered
50%
40%
40.4%
38.2%
30%
21.4%
20%
10%
0%
Yes
No
Don't know
Attended Tutorial Classes
100%
83.0%
80%
60%
40%
20%
17.0%
0%
Yes
No
Tutorial Class Ratings
80%
70%
60%
40%
30%
20%
0%
Helpful
Not Helpful
Reasons for not Attending Tutorials
No time to attend tutorial classes
38.9%
Tutorial class times were not
convenient
25.7%
Far or inaccessible location of the
venue
23.0%
No transport money
7.8%
Did not think that attending classes
would be helpful
2.7%
No information about the
times/venues
1.8%
0%
5%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
Needed Counselling Support
80%
73.2%
60%
40%
26.8%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Contacted Unisa's Counselling Services
100%
80.6%
80%
60%
40%
20%
19.4%
0%
Yes
No
Why Counselling Services not Contacted
80%
60%
54.1%
45.9%
40%
20%
0%
Didn't have the time
Didn't think it would be
useful
Experience with Counselling Services
Tried to contact but didn't succeed
27.4%
Received unsatisfactory report
19.0%
Contacted Unisa via e-mail
16.0%
Contacted Unisa after hours
13.5%
Contacted Unisa during the morning
9.3%
Contacted Unisa during the afternoon
8.9%
Contacted Unisa by telephone
4.2%
Received satisfactory support
1.7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Consulted Anyone Regarding Exam Decision
80%
71.8%
60%
40%
28.2%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Received Advice Influenced Exam Decision
80%
60.5%
60%
40%
39.5%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Person Consulted for Exam Advice
Family
31.6%
Friends
15.0%
Medical doctor
13.3%
Employer
10.9%
Colleagues at work
9.6%
Other students
7.3%
Unisa Lecturer
4.9%
Private psychologist/psychiatrist
2.8%
Unisa Counsellor
2.1%
Unisa tutor
1.5%
Religious leader
1.1%
0%
5%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Had Enough Study Time
60%
49.8%
50.2%
Yes
No
40%
20%
0%
Spent Sufficient Time Studying
70%
64.7%
60%
50%
40%
35.3%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Yes
No
Reasons for Insufficient Study Time
Work responsibilities interfered
with my studies
45.5%
Domestic responsibilities
interfered with my studies
24.1%
Did not have enough study leave
17.5%
Did not receive the study materials
in time
8.1%
Social life interfered with my
studies
3.9%
Did not receive the study materials
at all
.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Reasons for not Studying Enough
Did not feel motivated to study
51.5%
Social life distracted me
24.8%
Not interested in the study material
11.0%
Course was not relevant to my future
work/career
8.0%
Course did not cover the topics I
thought it would cover
4.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Other Factors: Exam Absence
Work responsibilities
44.1%
Domestic responsibilities
21.2%
Illness
18.6%
My social life
4.3%
Was late(other reasons)
2.5%
Was late (unreliable transport)
2.4%
Wrong exam date
2.0%
Wrong exam time
1.6%
Was late (my own fault)
1.4%
No transport money
1.1%
Wrong info about venue
.8%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Strong Consequences for Exam Absence
100%
80%
82.4%
60%
40%
17.6%
20%
0%
Yes
No
Perceived Consequences of Exam Absence
The completion of my studies would be
postponed
33.4%
I would be disappointed in myself
28.3%
Family would be disappointed
11.7%
Employer would be disappointed
7.4%
Other financial support would be lost
5.7%
Employer would withdraw financial and other
support
5.3%
Employer would not provide another
opportunity to write
3.0%
Lecturer would be disappointed
2.9%
Family would withdraw financial and other
support
2.3%
0%
5%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Why There Would Be No Strong Consequences
Was not concerned as I could simply
write again at the next Unisa
examination
46.6%
Family would understand
24.2%
Employer would understand
10.3%
Family would continue to support me
financially and otherwise
7.6%
Employer would provide another
oportunity for me to write
6.1%
Employer would continue to support
me financially and otherwise
5.2%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Unisa Exam Support
Clearer information on exam times and venues
3.4%
Clearer information on exam requirements
15.5%
Better study material
9.3%
Earlier distribution of study material
14.5%
More general encouragement and support
9.9%
Better access to tutorial support
8.8%
Better tutorial support
10.5%
Better access to lecturer support
8.7%
Better lecturer support
8.0%
Better access to counselling support
6.7%
Better counselling support
4.8%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%