Appendix A: Adjustment Process for Negative Dropout Quantities in Input-Output Matrix

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The negative dropout numbers were forced to zero by redistributing the completion numbers among the states defined by the same age group. The adjustment was done with two principles in mind. First, only the completion numbers are adjusted. Secondly, any adjustments made must ensure that the total number of completions remain unchanged.

An example illustrating how the adjustment process for negative dropout numbers works is shown in Table A1. In this example, initial construction of the input-output matrix resulted in a negative number of students moving from the last two transient states to the dropout state. In the adjustment process these two values are forced to zero by reducing the number of students moving to the completion state. The number moving from the sixth year of enrolment to completion is reduced from 78 to 74, and the number moving from the fifth year of enrolment to completion is reduced from 43 to 40. The net effect is that the number moving from the fourth year of enrolment to completion is increased from 57 to 64.

Table A1 An Example to Illustrate the Adjustment Process for Negative Dropouts