The Prediction of Performance in an Educational Psychology Master's Degree Program

Abstract

This study examined the predictive validity of the Graduate Record Examinations Aptitude Test, Verbal and Quantitative scores (GREV and GREQ) and undergraduate grade-point average (UGPA). Criterion variables consisted of graduate grade-point average (GGPA), the Master's Comprehensive Examination scores (MCE), and grades in individual required courses. Subjects were 91 students enrolled in the Department of Educational Psychology Master's degree program at a large metropolitan university. G REV correlated .31 with GGPA, but failed to correlate significantly with any other criterion. GREQ correlated .45 and .59 with grades in two research methods courses, but failed to correlate with any other criterion. UGPA was not significantly related to any of the criteria. These somewhat atypical findings stress the need for local validation of graduate admissions measures.