Investigation into the most effective use of a kindergarten screening battery to predict second-grade reading and mathematics achievement found that a combination of 10 readiness subtests resulted in the same degree of accuracy as that obtained using the entire battery. However, neither version was accurate enough to be useful. (Author/CB)

The impact of misspecification on the estimation, testing, and improvement of structural equation models was assessed via a population study in which a prototypical latent variable model was misspecified. Results provide insights into the maximum likelihood estimator versus a limited two-stage least squares estimator in LISREL. (TJH)

Comparisons of 1983 data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) graduation survey with data on the third-year residencies reveal that the specialty preferences indicated were predictors of residency programs the respondents were in during the third year following graduation. (Author/MLW)

Assessed the utility of the premarital inventory, PREPARE, in predicting marital success. Conducted a three-year follow-up study with couples (N=164) who took PREPARE during their engagement. Found that the PREPARE scores from three months before marriage could predict with 80-90% accuracy which couples were separated and divorced from those that…

A study was conducted to determine whether cognitive style and learning style variables are predictive of success in a graduate allied health education program. The results indicated that there was no significant relationship between academic success and the cognitive style variables. (Author/CT)

Tested a model of depression that included level of current problems and social problem solving. Path analysis of data from 205 undergraduates showed the model accounted for 42 percent of the variance associated with the prediction of depressive symptoms. (MCF)

Based on a sample of 145 graduate students in social work, results indicated that the Graduate Record Examination, as a primary basis for admission, is not a valid predictor of future performance in schools of social work. Moreover, its elimination does not produce a lower quality of student. (Author/BW)

Prediction of success in a special program often guides program participant selection and treatment. If the statistical analysis used to develop such predictions is based on the special selectivity built into the program, the predictions can be misleading and the validation tests uninformative. Federal district court pretrial release data is used…

Data from surveys of university students that utilized the Approaches to Studying inventory were analyzed to test the hypothesis that a curvilinear relationship exists between learning strategies and academic grades. However, none of the non-linear regression models investigated improved significantly on the explanatory power provided by the…

Double cross-validation of a test battery against multiple criterion variables found the first general factor accounts for most criterion variance in cross-validated regression weights. Small contributions are made by mechanical/technical and psychomotor factors. It appears a common general factor plays the major role in validity for a range of…

Applied a logistic model to predict elderly patients' risk for discharge to nursing homes following hospitalization. Age was the only consistently strong predictor in the individualized models developed for each of four areas. (Author/JAC)

Twelve teachers estimated achievement test performance, basic intellectual ability, and academic motivation of each of their pupils. Standardized reading achievement and intelligence tests were administered to the pupils. Analyses revealed a high level of accuracy for achievement judgments when assessed against test scores. Pupil gender did not…

Reports on the steps undertaken and the discoveries made by the English department of Illinois State University in its development of a valid, reliable measure of student competency in freshman composition. (HOD)

Reveals that the cloze and comprehension test scores correlated at significant levels, thus supporting the predictive validity of the cloze procedure. (RB)

Statistically significant relationships were found between dropping out and occupation and between dropping out and the accuracy of the SVIB. Such relationships may influence results of follow-up studies on the validity of the SVIB. (Author)