Measures of biographical data, or biodata, provide indicators of one's life history and past experiences. Biodata information is often available in various forms during processes of academic admissions to higher education. Such information can be used, in combination with other factors, to predict students' future academic and extra-curricular…

This study predicted two measures of incidental employee absenteeism (absenteeism with pay and without pay) via seven biographical and six attitudinal variables with 195 employees. Results indicated paid absences were basically unpredictable, while unpaid absences could be predicted to some degree by certain variables consistently identified…

Examined the validity of a rationally developed biographical questionnaire for predicting content valid test performance for electrician applicants (N=221). Results showed that the utility of the questionnaire in screening applicant populations was both statistically and practically significant. (LLL)

A scoreable biographical data key was developed for a group of women lower level managers, and applied to male and female managers. Showed statistical validity for both the cross-validation sample and for the samples of female and male managers. (Author)

The use of life history or biographical information to predict various college experiences of women was examined in this study of 327 women. The results indicated that life history data could be used to make longitudinal predictions and are discussed in terms of their implications for counseling students in higher education. (Author/LBH)

Assesses the effectiveness of a factored biographical inventory in predicting freshman GPAs, and suggests that biodata be considered in college selection. (Author/JN)

Historically, nontest variables have been used more frequently than achievement test scores in the prediction of educational progress, but research in this area has been largely empirical. Recently, however, a theoretical model based on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior was formulated. This model was used in a…

Results of this study point to the importance of using a differential validity model in industrial validation research not only for aptitude measures, but also for personality and personal history data. (Authors)

A Biographical Data Inventory (BDI) and a standard final evaluation form were developed and administered to practicing medical technologists and senior year medical technology students at a State university. A correlation of .68 between scores reinforced findings of other studies, suggesting that BDI's are useful in advisement and selection of…

This research was conducted in an attempt to construct empirically derived biographical scoring keys for predicting the academic and practice-teaching performance of students in the first-year teacher education program at a Canadian university. Also attempts to use these measures to select applicants for the program. (Author/RK)

The relationships among measures of vocational interest, life history data, educational performance, and number of courses taken (by area) were explored in a college freshman sample of 1,892 students. Canonical correlation analysis was used to uncover and describe the major relationships among the variable sets. (Author/JKS)

A five-year study was undertaken to develop criterion rating scales for predicting successful performance in graduate business study, as well as in later career progress. The scales embodied dimensions, other than grades, which were judged by a nationwide panel of faculty to be relevant to performance. The scales were defined and anchored by…

Thirteen predictors of self-reported high school leadership were investigated using data from the Project TALENT sample of high school seniors. The high school leader was characterized as mature, interested in business management, self-confident, socially sensitive, vigorous, and having high socioeconomic status. Cognitive variables were not…

In the past only academic variables have performed well in the prediction of attrition. Ideally, persons in higher education would like to predict attrition prior to its occurrence, but many academic variables are not available until after the fact. Thus, the isolation of those motivational and personality variables which identify individuals as…

A study of the U.S. Navy officer students who were registered in the Operations Research/System Analysis curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in spring, 1974, was conducted using biographical data, the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, and the Graduate Record Examination to develop an equation predicting academic performance of U.S.…