A model of undergraduate student withdrawal behavior based on Maslow's theory of human motivation

The purpose of this research was to examine the usefulness of applying the concepts of Maslow's theory of human motivation to the understanding of undergraduate student withdrawal from universities. Exploratory survey research was conducted using a sample of undergraduate students withdrawing from The American University. The survey instrument was constructed using the principles of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs. The hypotheses tested in this research suggest that undergraduate students withdrawing are motivated by needs in one or more of the Maslowian categories; that the Maslowian categories of need relate the demographic and/or performance characteristics of the withdrawing student; and that student motivating factors for withdrawal will be either internally or externally based, both being equally influential on the decision to withdraw. The subjects of this study were 166 undergraduate students who identified themselves as wishing to withdraw from The American University and who completed the Undergraduate Withdrawing Student Survey. The survey instrument was developed specifically for this research. Data were analyzed using canonical correlations to model the associations between the Maslowian categories and demographic/performance characteristics. Significant results emerged showing the negative association between student self-esteem needs and cumulative grade point averages. The findings of this study show evidence to support the usefulness of Maslowian concepts as a diagnostic mapping for the motivational forces influencing a decision to withdraw from a university.