The document discusses cohort analysis as a method for evaluating student performance over time by comparing current data with baseline data from prior performances. It highlights the importance of examining persistence, retention, and attrition rates to understand student enrollment patterns and improve retention-enhancing programs. Additionally, it notes the significance of institutional research in evaluating student engagement and the effectiveness of teaching and learning practices.

2. COHORT ANALYSIS
Alfred Mutanga
MIS Specialist
University of Venda
Date: 22 November 2013
Venue: NWU PUK Sports Village

3. Why a Cohort Analysis?
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A cohort?
– A group of students selected for further study
• Meets a certain predetermined criterion
• Often this a group of students enrolling for the first time in a
cluster together during the same academic period
– Baseline data: is the basis for cohort study

4. Baseline Data
Baselines
• Established with internal data and are used to
determine performance over time
– These data are used to represent the state of the issue at
hand before selected activities or events took place
– Establishment of baselines is critical for continuous quality
improvement initiatives or other improvement processes
• Cohort Analysis refers to the use of data by
institutions to compare current performances with
a prior performance to determine trends

5. Theoretical Framework for Cohort Analysis
The Persistence- Retention- Attrition Triad?
– Refers to the tendency for students to continue their
enrollment at an institution
– Persistence focuses on the tendency of students to
continue their enrolment from semester to semester
– Retention Studies focuses on the tendency for the
students to enroll in consecutive semesters
– Attrition relates to the tendency of the students to
withdraw from a qualification
Persistence- Retention- Attrition how is HEDA taking care
of this through Cohort Analysis?

6. Persistence-Retention-Attrition: HEDA Contexts
• Persistence: HEDA includes Enrolment Studies in the
Cohort Analysis Application
• Enrolment Studies is an examination of the number of
students enrolled for an academic period tracked year
by year
• Persistence studies may include:
– Study of Graduation rates
– The Flow of students through the institution
• Data from these studies may become baseline for
determining the impact of student retention-enhancing
programs or activities

7. Retention
• Qualification Retention- tendency for students to
continue attending a qualification until completion
regardless of the grade they receive
• Usefulness of Retention Studies:
– Show students’ overall determination to stay enrolled
regardless of grade
– Highlight the patterns of student withdrawal from
qualifications

8. Attrition
Attrition in HEDA is defined with two indicators and these are drop-outs
and Stop-outs
• This type of study is a variation of the aforementioned studies as
it focuses on the persistence through a semester or an
academic year.
• Stop-outs are students who withdraw from a qualification and at a
later date re-join the qualification (or another at the same
institution?)
• Drop-outs are students who withdraw from a qualification and will
never re-join the qualification during the period of study
• Calculating attrition is an important aspect of determining student
engagement with the institution

9. A Snapshot of Results of Cohort Analysis

10. Cohort Analysis Provoke Some Questions
• Graduates in the first Cohort Year-how come we have a
graduate during the first year students enrol for a
qualification? Methodology FCE
• Student Unit Records– Who are the students who are retained in the system for such a
long time?
– Are we doing enough as an institution to help students graduate
in record time or finish their courses?
– What do our Teaching and Learning, Assessment say? Do they
need to be reviewed
• Premise for Institutional Research activities concerning
student engagement with the institution, etc.

11. Our Experience Identifying Unit Records
Knowledge
of
SQL

12. Thank you