ERIC Number: ED591056
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 154
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-0-4385-0038-9
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Classification of One-Year Student Persistence: A Machine Learning Approach
Siebrase, Benjamin
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Denver
Multilayer perceptron neural networks, Gaussian naive Bayes, and logistic regression classifiers were compared when used to make early predictions regarding one-year college student persistence. Two iterations of each model were built, utilizing a grid search process within 10-fold cross-validation in order to tune model parameters for optimal performance on the classification metrics F-Beta and F-1. The results of logistic regression, the historically favored approach in the domain, were compared to the alternative approaches of multilayer perceptron and naive Bayes based primarily on F-Beta and F-1 score performance on a hold-out dataset. A single logistic regression model was found to perform optimally on both F-1 and F-Beta. The logistic regression model outperformed all four of the individual alternative models on the evaluation criteria of concern. A majority voting ensemble and two additional ensembles with empirically derived weights were also applied to the hold-out set. The logistic regression model also outperformed all three ensemble models on the scoring metrics of concern. A visualization technique for comparing and summarizing case-level classifier performance was introduced. The features used in the modeling process comprised traditional and non-traditional elements. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Classification, College Students, Academic Persistence, Bayesian Statistics, Evaluation Criteria, Comparative Analysis, Prediction, Regression (Statistics), Visualization, Evaluation Methods, Computer Software
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A