This article demonstrates, through a case study, the use of pre-existing subgroups as moderator variables to increase the predictive effectiveness of educational research. Use of moderator variables in this study increased the amount of explained variance by 460 percent. (JDS)

Failure to identify and account for the effect of moderator variables is an important reason for the low explanatory power of much educational research. Pre-existing subgroups such as sex, ethnicity, and curriculum offer an easily identifiable and theoretically meaningful source of moderator variables. Tests for intercept and slope differences in…

The reasons for withdrawal by students qualified to return to Bronx Community College (BCC) were studied. A short survey form consisting of three open-ended questions was sent to 153 of the dropouts, while a long form with about 30 objective questions was sent to 1,498 dropouts. Thirty-two responses to the short form and 250 responses to the long…

With the implementation of an open admissions policy in 1970-71, Bronx Community College undertook a study of students entering in the fall of 1970 to determine changes in levels of academic preparation, trends in attrition and retention for students differentially prepared for college work, identification of entry variables associated with…

A system to identify the potential dropout was studied at a two-year urban institution. All entering freshmen participating in a compulsory freshmen orientation course were administered a biographical inventory during the fifth week of enrollment. An academic or scholastic index was derived, based on high school averages and basic skills placement…