An experimental survey study of attrition in the Turkish literacy campaign

Abstract

The purpose of this survey experiment study was to identify possible wastage related factors in literacy courses being conducted in the Şişli-Gültepe area of Istanbul. These courses are a part of the National Literacy Campaign which began in the Spring of 1981. The study was limited to only two types of wastage attrition and failure to receive certificates (unsuccessful completion). A sample of 179 participants was chosen on a non-probabalistic basis from seven schools in the Şişli-Gültepe areas. During the first week of classes, these students were personally interviewed using a pre-tested Entry Level Questionnaire. After the completion of the 90 hour course, a Summative Level Questionnaire was administered to the dropouts and unsuccessful completers from the initial sample. Data analysis revealed that 461 of those participating in the first week of class either dropped out or failed to receive 8 certificate. In addition, it was found that these literacy courses do not attract males, unmarried women, the working force or the destitute. Demographic factors studied did not appear to be dropout-related factors while such motivat{ onal factors as expectations regarding the course, volition, felt needs, and teacher characteristics appeared to be dropout related factors. Unsuccessful completers were found to be older than successful completers and to have less formal and nonformal education than the dropout. Both dropouts and unsuccessful completers indicated a desire for classes to meet five days a week. Dropouts felt classes should be at least three hours per day while unsuccessful complters felt two hours were sufficient. Since schools from which the sample was taken were located in business, residential, slum and 'gecekondu' areas representational of the types of areas in the Şişli-Gültepe area, it is believed tha~ these findings can be generalied to some degree to the Şişli-Gültepe area of Istanbul. However, due to a non-probabalistic sampling method, generalizability may be limited to only those schools studied. I Recommendations were made for further study to understand how and why these factors ate related to dropout and failure to succeed. Furthermore, experiments with teaching methods, materials and approaches to literacy learning are seen to be necessary to better fit the needs and interests of the illiterate population of Turkey.