Prediction of scholastic success

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the criteria used for admission into the Preliminary International Baccalaureate (PIB) course of study at two Florida International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, St. Petersburg Senior High School and Pensacola High School, and the success in the IB diploma examination four years later. The study also sought to determine the predictive accuracy of their respective admissions criteria. The predictor variables for St. Petersburg Senior High School were eighth grade grade point average (GPA), the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) Total Battery, subscores of the CTBS (Reading Comprehension, Total Mathematics, Total Language) and IQ. The predictor variables for Pensacola High School were eighth grade GPA and California Achievement Test (CAT) Total Battery. The study involved 148 students. Multiple regression analysis indicated that eighth grade GPA is a significant predictor of success in the international Baccalaureate (p < .01). Results also suggest that the CTBS subscore of Reading
Comprehension is a significant predictor of success in the IB (p < .05). CTBS Total Battery, remaining CTBS subscores,
CAT Total Battery and IQ were not significant predictors (p > .05). The combination of eighth grade GPA and CTBS Reading Comprehension provided the most significant contribution to the overall predictive model (p < .01).

Predictive discriminant analysis was used to determine the existence of variable subsets that predicted success in practical nursing programs. Chi-square analysis was used to test the significance of differences between program completion rates of remediated and nonremediated groups of practical nursing students. Eight null hypotheses were tested. The subjects in this ex post facto study were the 362 practical nursing students who entered the Broward County Practical Nursing Program between April 1988 and August 1989. The subjects included 195 Black females, 138 White females, 11 Black males, and 18 White males. Approximately sixty percent (218) of the students completed the program. Classification accuracy or (hit-rates) for all possible subsets of predictor variables (age, gender, race, ACT, Career Preparation Program sub-test scores, education level, year diploma received, nursing theory score, number of courses completed) were generated for the total sample, completers, and dropouts. The classification accuracy of predictor sets (also called models) were compared to what could be achieved by simply assigning all subjects to the larger group (completers). Analyses revealed that a number of cross-validated models, or predictor sets, were significantly better at predicting success than both maximum and proportional chance criterion. The model that was the best predictor of dropouts contained the variables age, reading sub-test score, math sub-test score, and average nursing theory score. The best predictor set for the total sample contained the variables age, race, nursing theory score, and number of term one courses completed. Significant differences (p < .05) between the program completion rates of LPN students requiring remediation before program entry and those not requiring remediation were found for all sub-tests except reading. These findings add to the growing body of knowledge that may provide program administrators a better understanding of some of the factors affecting attrition from practical nursing programs.

Students from Indian River Academy and Palm Vista Christian Schools were compared to determine what relationships and interactions existed among attitudes, values, personality traits, critical thinking skills, interests, and demographic characteristics such as grade level, socioeconomic status, and gender. Results of Study of Values, Junior/Senior High School Personality Questionnaire, Kuder General Interest Survey-E, Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes, and the Critical Thinking Appraisal were utilized to assess a sample of two hundred fourteen (214) pupils attending seventh through twelfth grades at Indian River Academy along with a sample of the one hundred twenty-five (125) students enrolled in seventh through twelfth grades at Palm Vista Christian School. A 2 x 2 x 2 ANOVA was employed to examine the differences between groups by age, socioeconomic status, and gender on attitudes, values, personality traits, interests, and critical thinking skills. No significant interaction occurred among socioeconomic status, grade level, and gender in values, attitudes, personality traits, interests, or critical thinking skills. None of the dependent variables proved to be significant when socioeconomic status was considered to be the main effect. Only the Critical Thinking Appraisal and selected subtests from the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes revealed scores that were significantly different based upon grade level. Differences in study skills and attitudes were clearly evident between middle school and senior high school students with female middle school students dramatically outscoring the male middle school students and middle school students, in general scoring significantly higher than senior high students. Differences in critical thinking skills were also evident between middle school and senior high school students with senior high males and females outscoring those students in middle school classes. Univariate F tests indicated a highly significant difference exists between male and female responses with respect to affective characteristics. Further research should be performed to assess behavioral character and other affective characteristics to identify instructional implications of learner differences.

The purpose of this study was to identify what climate indicators (attitudinal, support provision, student interaction) found in allied health sciences classroom and clinical settings at a northwest community college contribute to the success of students with psychological disabilities. Three climate assessments and a series of interviews revealed crucial information regarding academic support necessary to assist students with psychological disabilities within the allied health sciences. Utilizing mixed methodologies, the researcher collected and analyzed data during the Fall 2005 academic quarter from 177 climate assessments and facilitated 33 interviews, five student focus groups, and five follow-up interviews with students with psychological disabilities. The study revealed allied health sciences faculty and staff who implement universal design principles, take time to meet with students, build trusting relationships, and work as allies may dramatically influence a student's perception of their academic potential therefore, influencing academic success. The research also indicated allied health sciences programs require additional professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to enhance the climate for students with psychological disabilities. Positive attitudinal indicators, increased support provisions, and frequent student interactions between faculty, staff, and students were found to be key indicators for student academic success. Recommendations are provided for faculty and staff to support the success of students with psychological disabilities.

Community colleges stress institutional goals related
to the concept that each individual should have
the opportunity to progress as far as his abilities and
interests will permit. While this concept does not imply
that everyone should have the same education, it does
demand diversified educational programs which the community
college strives to make available through its
curricular offerings. The purpose of this study was to construct predictor
equations which would determine an individual's probability
of success in introductory level college courses in English
(EN 125), social science (SS 28J), business (BU 101),
biology (SC 141), and mathematics (MA 151), at Fulton-Montgomery
Community College in Johnstown, New York. Percentage
of students achieving success in each course and
significant differences between courses for students achieving
success was calculated. Ten independent variables
were correlated with final grades in each course. The following independent variables were found to
be important in the regression equations: in EN 125,
comprehension score on the Nelson-Denny Reading test;
in SS 28J, prior high school social studies background,
age and prior high school English background; in BU 101,
age, comprehension score, high school mathematics and
English grade point average; in SC 141, age, overall
high school average, and high school social studies back ground;
and in MA 151, comprehension score and high school
mathematics background.
It was also shown that there was a significant difference
between courses for students achieving success.
Success percentage in each course varied with instructor.

This dissertation has been an attempt to measure the
relative effectiveness of professional academic advisement
to full-time degree seeking students of Miami-Dade Community
College, North Campus. The independent variables were treatment
(advisement or self-advisement), sex (male or female),
and age (under 26 years or 26 years and older). The criterion
variables were grade point average, withdrawal rate
(within term), retention rate (term to term), graduation
rate, number of course drops, and frequency of schedule
changes. To summarize the major conclusions drawn by this
researcher:
1. Advised students, regardless of sex or age, drop
fewer courses than do self-advised students.
2. There is no difference between advised and self-advised
students in terms of the frequency of class schedule
changes.
3. Differences in sex or age do not interact
significantly with the academic advisement treatment in terms
of the student success criteria of grade point average,
withdrawal rate, retention rate, graduation rate, frequency of
course drops, or frequency of schedule changes.
4. The relationships between the academic advisement
treatment and the student success criteria of grade point
average, withdrawal rate, retention rate, and graduation rate
are inconclusive and merit further research.

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.

Florida has been a leader in the K-20 educational reform in an effort to ensure the seamless transition into postsecondary education for all students, but specifically improving preparation for, and access to, higher education for populations traditionally marginalized and underrepresented in higher education. The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic composition of students participating in dual enrollment programs in Florida, and the relationship between dual enrollment participation and postsecondary success, as measured by student persistence and degree attainment, moderated by race, gender, and Pell status. Alexander Astin's (1993) I-E-O student involvement theory was chosen as the theoretical lens with which to guide the design and analysis of the study. A quantitative analysis of archived student records retrieved from the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness at a large urban state college in Florida was used in this study. ... The analysis revealed that students who were dual enrolled were more likely to persist in college and more likely to earn a degree than their non-dual enrolled peers.