| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to compile a test by means of which prospective first year
students in certain faculties could be selected. To achieve this goal those variables or best
combination of variables were identified which discriminated maximally between students of the
PU for CHE with regards to degree completion within the minimum time or not.
The study population consisted of 1 807 graduated students of three year cohorts namely,
1988, 1989, and. 1990, from the Faculties• of Law, Natural Sciences and Economic and
Management Sciences of the Potchefstroom campus of the PU for CHE.
Of the set of independent variables in this study, six indicated previous achievement, ten were
aptitude variables, twenty-one were measures of different interests, twelve were various adjustment
variables and seven were variables of study habits and study attitudes.
The aptitude variables in this study were measured with the Senior Aptitude tests (HSRC), the
different interests with the 19-Field Interests Questionnaire (HSRC), adjustment variables with
the Personal Social and Formal Relations Questionnaire (HSRC), and the study habits and
study attitudes variables with the Survey of Study Habits and Study Attitudes (HSRC).
As dependent variable, academic achievement in this study was operationalized in terms of the
time taken to complete the degree which had been enrolled for (academic productivity). Three
categories and/or groups were identified to operationalize the criterium academic achievement,
namely completion of the degree in the minimum time {Successful), took longer than the minimum
time to complete the degree (Partly successful) and never completed the degree which
had been enrolled for (Unsuccessful).
By means of stepwise discriminant analysis the best combination independent variables were
identified and utilized as classification functions in order to classify students of the Faculties of
Law, Natural Sciences and Economic and Management Sciences according to degree
completion within the minimum time or not (academic productivity). The percentages of correct
allocations to the respective criterium groups as well as the consistency of the classification
scheme were assessed by means of cross-validation tests on different students from the same
faculties but of the 1991-cohort.
The results of the study firstly indicated that different combinations of previous achievement,
specific aptitude, interests and adjustment variables maximally discriminated amongst students
of the faculties concerned with regards to degree completion in the minimum time or not. The
same was found for men and women students from the same faculty. Secondly it was found
that other variables or combinations of variables may play a part in degree completion in the
minimum time when matric achievement (variable of previous achievement) was omitted during
statistical analysis.
Lastly, the application of the identified classification functions in the form of a selection test was
illustrated by means of a case study from the Faculty of Natural Sciences. | en_US |
