DOCUMENT RESUME ED 113 579 CE 005 330 Harris, Randolph K.; Hhckell, Raymond K., Jr. 'AUTHOR Predicting Academic Success in Secondary Schools From TITLE the General Technical Composite on the Armed /Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. INSTITUTION Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group, Randolph AFR, TeX. Research Div. REPORT NO AFVTG-TR-74-2; VT-102-128 PUB DATE Dec 74 . 18g.; For related document, see'CE 005 331 NOTE ' EDRS PRICE MF-$0.76 HC-$1.58 Plus Postage DESCRIPTORS, Academic Achievement; *Aptitude Tests; Armed Forces; Correlation; Grade 11; Grade 12;' *Grade Point Average; *High School Students; *Predictive Ability Tables (Data); Test Results; *Vocational (Testing) ; Aptitude IDENTIFIERS *Armed-Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; ASVABC Texas (San Anto io) ABSTRACT - The study reports correlations between student scores - on the general technical composite of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and cumulative grade point averages. Data were collected on 911 juniors and seniors selected,from a sample at 22 high schools in the San Antonio, Texas, metropolitan area. The general technical score was found. to significantly relate to overall academic performance for 19 out of the 22 samples, with a media rank order correlation coefficient_ (rhorof .44. Results indicate that the level of relationship was not differentially affected by school-specific ethnic group composition, school expenditures, or average teacher/pupil ratio. Since socioeconomic levels represented in the various samples go from the highest to the lowest ranges, limited generalizations may be meaningful to other school districts with similar diverse populatilans. The report is designed for reference by high school counselors, service test administrators, and educational specialists as a supplemental guide to the interpretation of Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery results in local guidance and counseling. programs. (Author/MF) *****************************************************/***************** Documents acquired by ERIC include many informa unpublished .* * materials not available from other sources. ERIC ma es every effort * * to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal * * reproducibility are often encountered and this aff cts the quality * * of the microfiche _and hardcopy reproductions EPIC makes available * via the ERIC DOcument Reproduction Service (EDRS) EDRS is 'not * responsible for the quality of the original docu nt. Reproductions * * supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made f om the Qriginal. ************************************************** ******************** AFVTG TECHNICAL RESEARCH REPORT NUMBER PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM THE GENERAL TECHNICAL COMPOSITE ON THE ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION L WELF ARE NATIONAL'INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION 4, THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO. DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN- ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE- SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY RANDOLP i K. HARRIS, MAJOR, USA RAYMOND K. HUCKELL, JR., SFC, USA DECEMBER 1974 RESEARCH DIVISION ARMED FORCES VOCATIONAL 'TESTING GROUP RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group Technical Research Tteports and Technical Research Notes are developed for primary use and reference by secondary school counselors and Department of Defense Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test administrators and educational specialists. This report is presented in a format to facilitate field application by secondary school counselors, test adminis- trators, and educational specialists. Conclusions and recommendations are solely those of the primary authors and in no way represent official policy of either the mili- tary services or the Department of Defense. ( APPROVED BY HARRY D. WILFONG, PhD RALPH S. HOGGATT Technical Advisor Colonel, USAF Research Division Commander Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group 3 UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Dote Entered) READ INSTRUCTIONS REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE BEFORE COMPLETING FORM L REPORT NUMBER RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER 2. GOVT ACCESSION NO. 3. _ 74-2 , 4. TITL,E (and Subtitle) TYPE OF REPORT 6 PERIOD COVERED 5. , :Predicting Academic in Secondary Schools fromthe General Technical Composite on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery 6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER , 74-2 AUTHOR(.) 6. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(a) 7. Randolph Harris Raymond K. ckell Jr. 9. PERFORMING-ORGANIZATION NAME.' AND ADDRESS 10. PROGRAM ELEMENT.PROJECT, TASK AREA & WORK UNIT NUMBERS Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group Randolph AFB, TX 78148 AFVTG 117 .. 12. REPORT DATE CONTROLLING OFFICE'NAME AND ADDRESS 11 Armed Forces Vocational Testing Group December 1974 Randolph AFB, TX 78148 13. NUMBER OF PAGES AFVTG/RD 9 14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME if ADDRESS(1/ different from Controlling Office) SECURITY CLASS. NI thic report) 15. 11 UNCLASSIFIED 15o. DECLASSIFICATION/DOWNGRADING SCHEDULE DISTRIBUTION STATEMEN.T (al this Roport) 16. This document has been approved for public release and sale; distribution is unlimited. .. - . DISTRIBUTION ST Ael'EM ENT (of the betroct entered in Block 20, if different from Roport) 17. 10. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES .1 19. KEY WORDS (Continue on reeoro side If nocmary and identify by block number) Predicting Academic Success, Secondary Schools, San Antonio, Compostee, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude-Battery, ASVAB, Validity Coefficients, Correlation Coefficients, General Technical, GT, Grade Point Average, G.P.A., Sampling Technique, Texas Education Agency. - 20: ABSTRACT (Continuo on rovers* side If neceesery and identify by block number) This Technical Research Note reports correlations between student scores on the General Technical (GT) composite of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs). Data were collected on 911 juniors and seniors selected from a sample at 2,2 secondary schools in the San Antonio metropolitan area. - . , The GT Icore was fbund to significantly relate to overall academic performance FJOANRM73 DD EDITION OF 1 NOV 66 IS OBSOLETE . I UNCLASSIFIED 4 SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE (When Dol entered) UNCLASSIFIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF, THIS P AGE(Whon Data Entered) Results indicate for 19 out of the 22 samples, with a median rho of,44. that the level of relatibnship was not differentially affected by school-'specific ethnic group composition, school expenditures, or ... average teacher/pupil ratio. Neither the samples used nor conclusions presented in this study should be construed as representative of high schools throughout the country. Since socio-economic levels represented in the various samples go from the highest to the lowest ranges, limited generalizations may be meaningful to other school districts with similar diverse populations. This is an initial report exploring the relationship between student performance on various ASVAB scales and various criteria in the civilian Additional studies will further assess relationships academic sector. across various grade levels, in differing types of training situations, As such, this first study should be nd across different time spanS. i terpreted as a prelude to additional and more comprehensive analyses of he Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. UNCLASSIFIED CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PACIE(Whon Dais Entered) 1 Technical Research Report 74-2 PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS FROM THE GENERAL TECHNICAL COMPOSITE ON THE ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL'APTITUDE BATTERY RANDOLPH K. HARRIS, MAJOR, USA 4 RAY OND K. HUCKELL, JR., SFC, USA RESEARCH DIVISION 4. ARMED FORCES VOCATIONAL TESTING GROUP Randolph "Air Force Base, Texas 78148 December/1974 AFVTG PROJECT NUMBER 117 THIS' DOCUMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE AND SALE; DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED. 4 ii ,4 PREFACE This Technical Report is designed for reference by high school counselors, service test administrators, and educational specialists as a supplement 1 guide to the 'interpretation of Armed_ Services Vocational Aptitu Battery (ASVAB) results in local guidance and counseling program _ Data summarized in this Technical Research Note were collected on 911 students randomly selected from a sample of. 22 secondary schools in the San Antonio metropolitan area. School samples were obtained through voluntary participation. The investigators are in- debted to all participating counselors, admiOstrative personnel, and principals. Special aripreciation is owed to Miss Barbara Beverly, Research Division, Texas Education Agency, Austin, Texas, and Mr. Roy Baiter, Coordinator Northeast Guidance, Independent of School District, San Antonio, Texas. Of/ ABSTRACT This Technical Research Note reports correlations between stu- dent scores on the General Technical (GT) composite of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs). Data were collected on 911 juniors and seniors se- lected from a sample at 22 secondary schools in the San Antonio) metropolitan area. The GT score was found to significantly relate to overall academic performance for 19 out of the 22 samples, with a median rho of .44. Results indicate that the level of relationship was not differentially affected by school-specific ethnic group coemposition, school ex- or average teacher/pupil ratio. penditures, Neither the samples used nor conclusions presented in this study should be construed as representative of high schools throughout the country. Since socio-economic levels represented in the various samples go from the highest to the lowest ranges, limited generaliza- tions may be meaningful to other school districts with similar diverse populations. This is an initial report exploring the relationship between student performance on various ABVAB scalelnifill-Various criteria in the civilian academic sector. Additional studies will further assess re- lationships across various grade levels, in differidg types of training situations, and across different time spans. As such, this first study should be interpreted as a prOlude to additional and more compre- Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. hensive analyses of the Arm iv 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I Iptroduction and Background Procedure 2 Resultd 3 Discussion 4 Conclusions and Implications for Further Research 6 ) LIST OF TABLES Table Ranges of School Associated Socio-Economic Variables , 3 1 2 Student Samples 4 3 OPA and GT MeansIntercorrelatiOns 5 LIST OF APPENDICES (\ Appendix Description of ASVAB Subtests A1-1 1 2 Sample Letter to School Administrator A2-1 1 r PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUC S IN SECONDA1Y SCHOOLS FROM THE GENERAL TE HNICAL COMPOSITE ON THE ARMED SERVICES VOC TIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND consistently correlate with various meas- ures of scholastic achievement. Traxler Since introduction of the Armed Serv- (1937) reported that global measures of Vocational ices Aptitude Battery intelligence correlated significantly (ASVAB) into the national high school with measures of scholastic achieve- counseling environment in 1968, two ment, whether the' criterion be teacher's validation interpretative and studies marks or student scores on standardized have been conducted on the instrument achievement and aptitude tests. In an within the military services (Vito la, Mul- earlier study, Gates (1922) summarized lins, and Croll, 1973; Thomas, 1970). that, in general, verbal tests seemed to be . better predictors achievement of The traditional criterion used within than offie titude scales. The range of such studies has been evaluation against is for the elementary validity coeffic success in training in military technical level was from +. -to +.79; at the sec- schools. Comparable data (for an apti- ondary level, the range s '4-.50 to +.60. tude designed primarily for serv- In a similar vein, Byrns, Ruth, and Hen- ice enlisted screening and job classific^a,- mon (1935) found significant relation- tionurposes) has not been accumulated ships between verbal aptitude measures on civilian student samples. overall and standing academic (i.e., GPA) as early as the fourth grade. The basic objective of this research study was to explore the relationship be- In summarizing the results of 12 stud- tween a single dimension of ASVAB ies correlgting global maasures of Intel- performance and overall grade point av- ligence with attained GPA for courses at- erages (GPAs) for a regional sampling of tempted, Ross and Hooks (1930) found high school students. The ASVAB com- relationships from '4-.12 to +.69 with a ponent chosen as the predictor, variable median correlation coefficient of In +.48. was student scores on the General Tech- a similar review reported in Miller (1961), consisting nic Composites, unit of Travers estimated the probable range of ting the two subtests of Word wei coefficients obtained between various in- Kno, ledge and Arithmetic Reasoning. A telligence tests and grades in academic full description. of all ASVAB subtests subjects to be between +.40- and +.60. used in reporting results-to high school counselors and 'students appears in Ap- In operational industrial training en- pendix 1. The student GPA was chosen as vironments, similar findings have been the criterion because it was readily avail- summarized which demonstrate consist- able anii approximates overall academic ent significant and relationships be- standing of students within the micro- tween scores on tests intellectual of cosm of a specific scho I system. For. the abilities and perforniiince in training. To purposes of this study, primarily &irected the extent that the 'learning environ- toward senior sampl a cumulative ments are parallel between secondary , four-year GPA, covering an average of high school systems and industrial/serv- six courses, per year, was chosen as'theo ice training programs, the results of such optimum available criterion variable. 4lesearch in the, industrial setting are of interest to the basic concern of the pres- Several researchers have demonstra- ent study (viz. demonstrating the rela- ted that global measures of intelligence tionship(s) between an overall measure 10