An Investigation of the Reliability and Validity of the Engineering and Physical Science Aptitude Test

Abstract

Each year thousands of young people enter colleges of engin eering in the United States; but less than one-half of them suc cessfully complete engineering training at the school which they entered. The majority of the drop-outs occur before the begin ning of the sophomore year. Furthermore, most of these first year drop-outs have substandard grades. Educational guidance personnel and prospective engineering students alike would welcome the availability of a brief, inex pensive, dependable instrument for the prediction of scholastic performance in colleges of engineering. While several avail able instruments contribute to predictions in this area, none ad equately satisfies all of the above qualifications. Although the prospect of striking success in the development of a single in strument to fulfill these requirements coinciden tally is not au spicious, the worth of any improvement, however slight, just ifies efforts directed toward even a partial solution. The principal purpose of the investigation reported herein was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scores obtained in an administration of a predictive instrument in this area.