This Person Is in My Class? A Qualitative Account of Student Absenteeism

• In Event: Roundtable Session 43
  In Roundtable Session: Urban Learning, Teaching, and Research SIG Roundtable 2

Abstract

Persistent student absenteeism is a pressing area of educational research, as it is the leading predictor of urban high school dropout. While the literature on the subject is vast, there is an overreliance on quantitative methods. Moreover, within these designs an 'absence' is often defined by a lack of parental permission to be absent. This research employed the voluntary/involuntary absence framework in an interview-based approach that sought to document the opinions of three absentees. The distinction this study makes is based on the motivation and ability of a student to be present. The results indicate that the participants exhibit both motivational and external barriers to attendance, which points to the need to implement both attendance increasing and absenteeism accommodation strategies.

Author

• Anton Birioukov, University of Ottawa