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Report on a Factor Analysis of Entrance Tests and Grades for the Class of 1949 at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Author(s):
French, John Winslow, 1918-
Publication Year:
1948
Report Number:
RB-48-04
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
23
Subject/Key Words:
United States Coast Guard Academy, College Entrance Examinations, Factor Structure, Grade Prediction

Abstract

Factor analysis of entrance test scores and grades for the Class of 1949 has identified a number of factors or psychological functions responsible for a large part of the variations in test scores and grades within the cadet group. The factors which are important in predicting academic success at the Coast Guard Academy are mathematics ability, verbal ability, reading, and spatial ability, in that order. There is also some factor which greatly affects course grades, but which is not measured at all by the entrance tests used in this study. This factor is indicated because the cadets tend to get similar grades in every subject. This could be a result of a factor of interest or of effort or it could be something in the grading system itself. The admissions procedure already tends to give weight to the factors in nearly their correct order of importance. An attempt to measure the last factor mentioned would be an important further step. Another step would be to compare the entrance test scores of those who graduated with those who failed. The use of cutting scores might be found appropriate.

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