Influence of socioeconomic factors on the students' dissertation of the social science major

Abstract

The purpose was to identify and determine the influence of socioeconomic factors on students´ desertion from the Social Sciences Major with a Mention in Local Development, 2006 - 2007, URACCAN, Las Minas Campus, and suggest strategies that contribute to reduce the permanence of the phenomenon in the major. The methodology was placed in the qualitative paradigm with a theoretical-methodological approach of symbolic interactionism. Individual and group interviews were conducted, in addition to the observation, the data provided was compiled, processed and analyzed. As a result, the socioeconomic factor and its causes were identified such as: unemployment, work activity, lack of family support, pregnancies, family problems, lack of vocational and academic orientation. The influence of these elements on student desertion was evident, which implies the lack of economic resources to cover transportation expenses, fees, registration and reproduction of materials. The study affirmed that the desertion occurred in the first year of the major specifically at the beginning of the second partial and at the beginning of the second semester, the other moment of the desertion was at the beginning of the second year. The absence of strategies, mechanisms and institutional policies for the follow-up of deserters to foresee the desertion was evidenced. All involved, raised a total or partial ignorance on the subject, which marked the guidelines to suggest economic, academic and institutional strategies to reduce college desertion.