skip to main content skip to footer

Educational Achievement Prior to and During High School SCAT STEP SES

Author(s):
Patton, Michael J.
Publication Year:
1969
Report Number:
RB-69-29
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
44
Subject/Key Words:
Office of Education, Academic Achievement, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Curriculum, Longitudinal Studies, School and College Ability Tests (SCAT), Secondary School Students, Sequential Tests of Educational Progress (STEP), Socioeconomic Status (SES), Statistical Analysis

Abstract

A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed on the STEP, SCAT and socioeconomic (SES) scores of 2,952 "Growth Study" subjects at grades 7,9 and 11. The Ss were grouped using grade 11 information according to 5 curricula, 2 sexes and 18 high schools so that the MANOVA of grade 7,9 and 11 data was accomplished using these factors as design parameters. The findings indicate that at each grade the school, curriculum and sex factors were each associated with significant multivariate F ratios. As early as grade 7, meaningful differences in the performance and background of these Ss were apparent. Among the nonacademic groups, the vocational curriculum students were distinguished from their other nonacademic peers in terms of performance on STEP Science and low SES, a trend that continued through grade 11. In general, it was found that the academic curricular group exhibited evenly distributed achievement across the areas covered by the STEP and SCAT tests from grades 7 to 11. The on-going achievement of the nonacademic groups appeared less uniform with higher achievement noted on STEP Science and Social Studies. The school factor was observed to distinguish significantly among the school groups at grade 7 in seven different ways. The attributes which appeared to best describe the sample of students at each grade were, until grade 11, those on which higher SES groups did better. However, some lower SES groups made greater achievement gains over time than did higher SES groups. The differences that were found to remain among school groups at grade 11 are of practical educational importance, especially in the achievement areas covered by STEP Listening, Social Studies, Science and Math.

Read More