Based on research by Scott Turner, DBA'24
Retention of students in professional training programs is a key challenge in multiple industries. The aviation sector faces a critical shortage of pilots, exacerbated by high dropout rates in flight training programs. While previous studies have explored financial and structural barriers to persistence, this dissertation examines the often-overlooked impact of instructor-student relationships.
Specifically, this study explores how coaching leadership style (CLS) and attribution of instructor behavior (AoIB) influence students’ intention to persist (ITP) in flight training, with career decidedness (CD) acting as a mediating factor. Using Tinto’s Model of Institutional Departure and Attribution Theory as theoretical frameworks, the research examines whether an instructor’s perceived motivation (self-focused vs. student-focused) affects students’ career confidence and persistence.
Key Points
- Perceived instructor motivation matters. Students are more likely to persist when they believe their instructor is genuinely invested in their success rather than self-interest (e.g., building flight hours).
- Instructor leadership style impacts student retention. Flight instructors who adopt a coaching leadership approach—emphasizing mentorship, feedback, and student development—positively influence students' confidence in their career choice. However, if an instructor demonstrates coaching leadership behaviors without an altruistic nature, their effectiveness is significantly diminished compared to one who genuinely prioritizes student success.
- Career decidedness mediates persistence. Students with higher clarity about their career path are more likely to continue in training, and instructor behavior plays a role in shaping this clarity. An instructor’s ability to foster career confidence is significantly enhanced when their coaching leadership style is accompanied by a genuine interest in student development rather than personal gain.
Why This Matters
- Reducing dropout rates in aviation. Addressing instructor-student dynamics can help flight schools retain more students, reducing training inefficiencies and costs.
- Training instructors in coaching leadership. Flight training institutions can enhance student retention by incorporating leadership training for instructors, focusing on a coaching leadership style that integrates student engagement and mentorship. However, this training must emphasize genuine student-centered motivation rather than simply applying coaching techniques.
- Improving industry workforce pipelines. Understanding student retention factors can help address the global pilot shortage by ensuring more students complete their training.
Based upon the following peer-reviewed manuscript: Turner, S.S. , 2024. Examining the Relationship Between Coaching Leadership Style, Attribution of Instructor Behavior, and Intention to Persist: A Mediation Analysis of Career Decidedness in Aviation
