Skipping Class: An Analysis of Absenteeism among First-Year College Students

This study explored class absenteeism among first-year college students. I analyzed nine variables to assess possible effects on missing class. The results suggested that disliking a class was associated positively with absenteeism from that class. Further analysis confirmed the following: time spent studying was associated negatively with absenteeism from classes that students liked as well as from those they disliked;frequency of alcohol consumption was associated positively with absenteeism from disliked classes but had no effect on liked classes; being female was associated positively with absenteeism from classes liked as well as disliked; finally, the previous semester's grade point average was associated negatively with absenteeism from classes that students disliked but not from those they liked. The implications of these findings are discussed.