View in EDS

An Examination of the Predictive Validity of a Measure of College Admissions Applicants' Attributions of Success and Failure

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: An Examination of the Predictive Validity of a Measure of College Admissions Applicants' Attributions of Success and Failure
Language: English
Authors: Joseph H. Paris, Rachel Heiser
Source: Journal of Postsecondary Student Success. 2022 1(4):112-140.
Availability: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 29
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Prediction, Test Validity, College Admission, Admission Criteria, Success, Failure, Measures (Individuals), Academic Persistence, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes
ISSN: 2769-4879
2769-4887
Abstract: Upon the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of higher education institutions in the United States temporarily or permanently adopted test- optional admissions policies. Growth in the number of test- optional institutions and the longstanding criticism of standardized admissions tests as limited and unreliable predictors of college success have led to the use of broader criteria in the college admissions process. Despite the practice of holistic admissions, much of the variance in college outcomes remains unexplained by admissions criteria. Among the potential predictors of postsecondary educational promise are applicants' causal attributions of the behaviors and events they experience within their environment. Guided by attribution theory of motivation, we examine the predictive validity of a measure of 855 admissions applicants' causal attributions of success and failure. The measure, composed of four short- answer questions, was administered as part of a test- optional admissions policy at a large urban research university in the United States. Using hierarchical logistic and linear regression, we find that the measure is valid for use across student subgroups. The attribution score derived from the measure makes a statistically significant cant but nominal contribution to the prediction of four-year bachelor's degree completion. We also find that the attribution score does not make a statistically significant nor practical contribution to the prediction of cumulative undergraduate grade point average and five-year degree completion. We offer recommendations for higher education and enrollment management professionals and directions for future research.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1474224
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1474224
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1474224
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: An Examination of the Predictive Validity of a Measure of College Admissions Applicants' Attributions of Success and Failure
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joseph+H%2E+Paris%22">Joseph H. Paris</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+Heiser%22">Rachel Heiser</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Postsecondary+Student+Success%22"><i>Journal of Postsecondary Student Success</i></searchLink>. 2022 1(4):112-140.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Center for Postsecondary Success at Florida State University. 1114 W Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306. Web site: https://journals.flvc.org/jpss/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 29
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2022
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prediction%22">Prediction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Admission%22">College Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Admission+Criteria%22">Admission Criteria</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Success%22">Success</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Failure%22">Failure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Measures+%28Individuals%29%22">Measures (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Persistence%22">Academic Persistence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2769-4879<br />2769-4887
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Upon the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of higher education institutions in the United States temporarily or permanently adopted test- optional admissions policies. Growth in the number of test- optional institutions and the longstanding criticism of standardized admissions tests as limited and unreliable predictors of college success have led to the use of broader criteria in the college admissions process. Despite the practice of holistic admissions, much of the variance in college outcomes remains unexplained by admissions criteria. Among the potential predictors of postsecondary educational promise are applicants' causal attributions of the behaviors and events they experience within their environment. Guided by attribution theory of motivation, we examine the predictive validity of a measure of 855 admissions applicants' causal attributions of success and failure. The measure, composed of four short- answer questions, was administered as part of a test- optional admissions policy at a large urban research university in the United States. Using hierarchical logistic and linear regression, we find that the measure is valid for use across student subgroups. The attribution score derived from the measure makes a statistically significant cant but nominal contribution to the prediction of four-year bachelor's degree completion. We also find that the attribution score does not make a statistically significant nor practical contribution to the prediction of cumulative undergraduate grade point average and five-year degree completion. We offer recommendations for higher education and enrollment management professionals and directions for future research.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1474224
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1474224
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 29
        StartPage: 112
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Prediction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Admission
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Admission Criteria
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Success
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Failure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Measures (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Persistence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: An Examination of the Predictive Validity of a Measure of College Admissions Applicants' Attributions of Success and Failure
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Joseph H. Paris
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rachel Heiser
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2022
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2769-4879
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2769-4887
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 1
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Postsecondary Student Success
              Type: main
ResultId 1