Behoudcijfers

Behoudcijfers is a Dutch term that translates to retention figures or retention statistics. It refers to numerical indicators that measure the extent to which participants remain within a program, organization, or system over a defined period. Behoudcijfers can be applied in multiple domains, including education, employment, healthcare, and consumer markets, where the focus is on continued participation rather than drop-out or churn.

In education, retention figures often track how many students stay enrolled from one year to the next or how many complete a program within a set timeframe. In employment or public administration, they may measure how many employees remain with an organization after a given period. In healthcare or social services, retention figures can indicate how many patients or clients continue to use a service over time. In business, retention relates to customers who continue to use a product or service.

Calculation methods vary but commonly include retention rate formulas such as the proportion of individuals who remain at the end of a period relative to those at the start, or cohort-based measures that follow a defined group over time. Survival analysis methods, like life tables or Kaplan-Meier estimates, may be used for more detailed modeling.

Data sources for behoudcijfers include administrative records (enrollment, employment, or service usage data) and surveys. Interpretations depend on consistent definitions of “retention” and careful attention to timeframes and data quality. Limitations include definitional differences, data lag, and challenges in cross-context comparability.