Predicting different types of school dropouts: A typological approach withtwo longitudinal samples

Despite evidence of the psychosocial heterogeneity of school dropouts, empi rical studies have rarely directly addressed this issue. The general goal o f this research was to explore the heuristic value of a typological approac h for preventing and studying school dropout. The specific objectives were to build empirically a typology of dropouts based on individual school expe rience, to test the typology's reliability by replicating the classificatio n with two different longitudinal samples, and to examine the typology's pr edictive and discriminant validity. The results led to a 4-type solution: Q uiet, Disengaged, Low-Achiever, and Maladjusted dropouts. The results suppo rt the internal and external validity of the typology and highlight importa nt different profiles with regard to personal and social risk factors. The discussion underscores the theoretical and clinical utility of a typologica l approach by assisting the study of the different paths in the etiology of school dropout and the adoption of a differential prevention strategy.