The purpose of this study was to determine if high school counselors' predictive opinions of freshman college academic success were reliable indicators of actual college academic success achieved by freshman students.
Eleven null hypotheses were tested which involved high school counselors' opinions of college freshman grade point average and actual college grade point average achieved by freshmen in regard to the following variables: (1) sex of the counselor, (2) high school location, (3) sex of the student, (4) high school size, and (5) high school accreditation. All except one of the null hypotheses were rejected at the .05 level of confidence. The one null hypothesis retained involved male counselors' grade point average predictions for female students.
Yule's Q was the main statistical method used in determining the relationship between the variables as stated in the hypotheses. Chi-square was used in testing null hypotheses when cross-analysis of data was needed.
The findings indicated that counselors generally over-predict grade point averages for their students. However, female counselors predicted more accurately than male counselors for grade point average. Counselors in small schools predicted more accurately for grade point average than counselors in large schools. Counselors in high schools with a Kentucky accreditation of Standard and Basic predicted more accurately for grade point average than did counselors in high schools accredited as Comprehensive and Accredited. In regard to location, counselors In the Western Kentucky area predicted more accurately for college freshman grade point average at Western Kentucky University than did counselors in the Central and Eastern Kentucky areas.
The significant differences found in this study may be the result of several factors. For example, female counselors may be more methodical and careful in making use of predictive data than male counselors. The "halo effect" may have entered into the relationship between male counselors and female students in regard to grade point average prediction. Counselors In small schools, which are generally accredited as Standard and Basic, may be better acquainted with their students' home and school situations and therefore are better able to forecast college grade point average. Counselors in the Western Kentucky area may be graduates of and/or are familiar with the academic offerings as well as the grading system at Western Kentucky University.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:WKU/oai:digitalcommons.wku.edu:theses-3262 |
| Date | 01 May 1974 |
| Creators | Dicken, Billy |
| Publisher | TopSCHOLAR® |
| Source Sets | Western Kentucky University Theses |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Masters Theses & Specialist Projects |
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