Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if traditional indicators of college readiness were better predictors of students’ first semester college GPA and persistence to the second year of coursework compared to non-traditional indicators of college readiness. Specifically, this study analyzed the predictive validity of high school class rank and ACT/SAT scores compared to that of the psychosocial skills measured by the ACT Engage on students’ first semester college GPA and their likelihood of enrollment in the second year of college coursework. Methodology: Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the effect of gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, high school rank, Texas Success Initiative college readiness scores, SAT or ACT scores, and the ten themes of the ACT Engage Inventory (dependent variables), on students’ first semester college GPA and rate of persistence to the second year (independent variables). A sample of 4,379 first semester college freshmen participated in this study. Findings: Results indicated that high school rank, ACT/SAT scores and psychosocial skills measured by the ACT Engage theme academic discipline were accurate predictors of college performance. Results regarding the predictive power of traditional academic and non-traditional psychosocial predictors of persistence were less definitive. Students qualifying for federal financial assistance and female students showed the greatest likelihood of not returning for the second year of college. Research Limitations: One limitation of this study occurred because separate ethnicities were not evaluated as independent variables. Additionally, further research should occur regarding the relationship between the independent variables of gender and socioeconomic status and the dependent variable persistence. Practical Implications: Due to the predictive power of high school class rank, college entrance exam scores, and the psychosocial skill of academic discipline, educators and policy makers should design targeted preparation and support initiatives around improving students’ skills in these areas. Recommendations for such initiatives were provided. Value of Paper: This paper is valuable to educators at the secondary school and university levels because results can be used to design preparation and support programs in order to improve students’ performance and persistence at the college level.

Using Tinto's longitudinal model of institutional departure as the theoretical basis for this research, the purpose was to determine what extent selected motivational factors measured by the College Student Inventory (CSI) predict academic success and persistence of at-risk students at the University of North Texas (UNT). The study focused on United States citizens and permanent residents entering UNT as at-risk first-time freshmen admitted via individual approval for the fall 1994 semester. The 409 subjects were enrolled in a developmental course titled Personal and Academic Effectiveness where the CSI was administered during the first 2 weeks of class. Selected predictor variables were tested in relation to the separate criterion variables of grade point average and enrolled status during the 2nd and 4th years of the study. Grade point averages and enrollment data for the 1995-96 and 1997-98 academic years were extracted from the student information management system. The research design employed appropriate multiple regressions, multiple correlations, multiple discriminant analyses, and bivariate correlations. Findings confirmed the ability of five CSI factors to predict grade point average (p < .05) of at-risk students over the time frames used in this study. Nine factors predicting enrolled status were also significant at the .05 level; however, results were not meaningful in the 2nd year as factors classified 95% of all subjects as persisters. By the end of the 4th year, the factors were able to predict correct classification of both persisters and nonpersisters approximately 24% better than chance. This research provides support for Tinto's institutional departure model, particularly associated with pre-entry attributes and goals/commitments over time. The CSI is a viable instrument for use with at-risk first-time freshmen at a metropolitan university; however, required enrollment in a developmental course likely confounded the ability of selected variables to meaningfully predict enrolled status during the 2nd year.

This study was undertaken to investigate the predictive value of certain tests in relationship to first grade reading success. The following predictor tests were administered to seventy first grade students during the first two weeks of school: Metropolitan Readiness Test, Naming Letters Test, Light Response Test and Matching Symbol Test. The Teacher's Reading Readiness Rating Scale was filled out by each of the seven teachers at the end of the sixth week. The Wechsler Intelignce Scale for Children was administered to each child during the fall. The seventh predictor test was computed by finding the difference in individual scores of the Light Response Test and the Matching Symbol Test.

No description available.

In view of the National Plan for Higher Education (Department of Education, 2001) that calls for an increased throughput of students at higher education institutions within South Africa, a quantitative study was undertaken at a particular higher education institution during 2005 to identify factors associated with achievement in mathematics at entry level to tertiary studies. Factors considered in this study pertained specifically to those that may facilitate the introduction of intervention aimed at assisting students enrolled for mathematics at tertiary level and who are at risk of failing. Students admitted to either a degree or extended degree programme in science, engineering and technology (SET) in 2005 at the higher education institution constituted the target population. A survey was conducted at the onset of the academic year among students in the target population providing written consent to participate in the study. Three pen-and-paper questionnaires were administered, i.e. a background questionnaire, a newly developed cognitive instrument for the measurement of basic mathematical skills, including mathematics language proficiency, and an adapted instrument, based on an existing standardised instrument, the Study Orientation in Mathematics (SOM) instrument (Maree, Prinsloo & Claassen, 1997), for the measurement of the affective and behavioural domains related to the studying of mathematics. Information regarding student achievement at the end of their first semester of study was obtained from student academic records. Background variables, in particular being an English second language (ESL) student and having received home language tuition at school were shown to be associated with the initial preparedness of students, i.e. their Grade 12 achievement. These variables did not, however, directly contribute towards the prediction of achievement at entry level to the institution. The extent to which students have acquired basic mathematical skills, particularly mathematical language proficiency (not necessarily reflected in their Grade 12 results) was shown to contribute significantly towards the prediction of achievement in mathematics at entry level. In addition, anxiety and attitude towards mathematics and the utilisation of effective study behaviour were also shown to be associated with achievement; the latter contributing significantly towards the prediction of achievement at entry level for both degree and extended degree programme students. The findings culminated in recommendations for tertiary institutions, educators and those embarking on future research relating to the theme in question. The issue of measuring basic mathematical skills, including mathematical language proficiency and study strategies of students studying towards careers in SET at the onset of their studies and providing support to improve these, is emphasised. / Prof. J. Strauss

Higher education in South Africa faces a variety of challenges including poor pass rates, large numbers of students dependent on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, intrapersonal and socioeconomic challenges of students and vast numbers of applicants vying for limited places in institutions. The primary method of selection and screening of applicants is the Academic Points Score (APS), calculated on Grade 12 achievement levels. However, large numbers of applicants exhibit similar or identical scores which meet minimum requirements. This makes effective selection difficult in terms of potential to succeed in the tertiary education context. Therefore, additional selection instruments may be useful in determining high from low potential candidates. Cognitive instruments are one option available to institutions and have been investigated to a certain extent, particularly in conjunction with alternative achievement based assessments. The present study examined a cognitive instrument utilised for selections at a University of Technology. The instrument is based on verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills, basic calculative ability, reading comprehension, memory and spatial reasoning. The results on the sub-tests of this instrument were examined in relation to APS and average mark achieved during study for National Diploma courses at the institution. Although statistically significant relationships did exist, as well as some demographic differences, effect sizes and correlation coefficients were small. Concerningly, APS did not explain a large percentage of variance in average mark. This finding is important in light of current selection procedures. Multiple regression and logistic regression models indicated that two specific sub-tests, in combination with APS, did contribute to predictive power in determining average mark. A number of themes in terms of this prediction are explored. These include English language ability, gender differences, specific cognitive skills and the general validity of utilisation of APS and/or cognitive testing as predictors of tertiary education success. In light of poor success rates in tertiary institutions across South Africa, further research into effective selection procedures should be prioritised.

This study attempted the answer to two primary questions: (a) Are strategic thinking skills possessed by college students prior to university matriculation related to their academic success in college, and (b) How does the predictive accuracy afforded by these skills compare to that from high school grade point average or standardized test scores? / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This study compares the achievement in three multimedia instructed World Geography classes between two groups of community college students: those students who were U.S. educated (from primary to secondary schools) and those students who were educated outside of the U.S. (from primary to secondary schools). The research was conducted using three World Geography (GEA 2000) classes at a community college in South Florida, between August 2007 and December 2007. The selected students were divided into two groups: one of U.S. educated students and one of non-U.S. educated students, all of whom volunteered their participation at the beginning of the course. The two groups were mixed males and females. The non-U.S. educated students were educated in 17 different countries. Data were obtained by means of test scores. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS statistical software. The data generated were analyzed statistically by running four t-tests. The .05 level of significance was selected for analysis of data related to the hypotheses. Overall the statistical difference between the achievement of U.S. educated and non-U.S. educated students in their achievement in multimedia instructed geography classes was non-significant as indicated by the results shown in the statistical analysis in the study. / by Edmar Bernardes Da-Silva. / Vita. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries / Department: Mathematics.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T16:32:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Noemi Bianchini.pdf: 1170299 bytes, checksum: 58099f57655ca9e038a399909a487672 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The area where this study is inserted is Education. The theme refers to the school learning and suffers clippings focusing on students-teachers who concluded the Normal Superior Course. After completion of the Master Course, concerns remained about some teachers-students education, and the first doctorate research questions arose. After all, how would it configure, really, what apparently could not be distinguished? Considering the hypothesis that the nuances observed in the interviews analysis with the teachersstudents at the Master Course and presented in Chapter 5, of the dissertation (Bianchini, 2005), were amplified / differentiated among the students-teachers components of the Doctorate, I considered that such nuances could be thought as peculiar constitutions of habitus and the school success would not be a talent result or merit for the studies. Using as a support for this study the Pierre Bourdieu Sociology, who favors us with important themes for studies in the educational sociology area, I highlighted the one who leads us to understand the social distinction production processes. Interviews were accomplished with two students-teachers who concluded the Normal Superior Course and received the Merit and Commendation Award at a graduation ceremony in two cities in São Paulo State country-side. The data analysis allowed us to understand the students-teachers practices as a practical sense product, as a "game sense" social and historically constructed and incorporated as habitus, as provisions constituted of specific capital, which allowed them to play the social and scholastic game with distinction and it may have been used, still, as a strategy in search of classification and / or reclassification in the social space in which they were inserted / O campo em que está inserido este estudo é o da Educação. O tema refere-se à escolarização e sofre recortes focalizando alunas-professoras que concluíram o Curso Normal Superior. Ao concluir o Mestrado, restaram inquietações a respeito da formação de algumas professoras-alunas e surgiram as questões inicias da pesquisa do Doutorado. Afinal, como se configuraria, realmente, o que, aparentemente, não se distinguia? Tendo como hipótese que as nuances observadas na análise das entrevistas com as professorasalunas no Mestrado e apresentadas no Capitulo 5, da dissertação (Bianchini,2005), encontravam-se ampliadas/diferenciadas nas alunas-professoras sujeitos do Doutorado, considerei que essas nuances poderiam ser pensadas como constituições singulares de habitus e o sucesso escolar não seria resultado de dom ou mérito para os estudos. Tomando como base para este estudo a Sociologia de Pierre Bourdieu, que nos privilegia com temas importantes para estudos no campo da sociologia da educação, destaquei aquele que nos leva a compreender os processos de produção de distinções sociais. Foram realizadas entrevistas com duas alunas-professoras que concluíram o Curso Normal Superior e receberam o Prêmio de Mérito e Louvor em solenidade de colação de grau em duas cidades do interior paulista. A análise dos dados permitiu compreender as práticas das alunas-professoras como produto de um sentido prático, como um sentido do jogo social e historicamente construído e incorporado como habitus, como disposições constituídas de capital específico, que lhes permitiu jogar o jogo social e escolar com distinção e que pode ter sido utilizado, ainda, como estratégia em busca de classificação e/ou reclassificação no espaço social em que estavam inseridas