An investigation of the predictive ability of selected variables to predict graduate school achievement when corrected for restriction of range

For the past l6 years, the College of Business Administration of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has required applicants to the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as a prerequisite for acceptance into the program. These scores, and undergraduate grade point average (uGPA) have been used as the primary instruments for selection of candidates into the MBA program. Five previous local studies have provided conflicting results on the . efficacy of these variables as predictors of success in graduate school.

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the GMAT scores, UGPA and other variables as possible predictors of success in graduate school using graduate grade point average (GGPA) as the criterion measure. A statistical procedure was used to determine if the selection process had the effect of lowering the validity coefficients between the predictor and criterion variables. In all cases except for two variables, the validity coefficients were increased by correcting for restriction of range in the predictor variables. . The correction for GMAT total score resulted in a validity coefficient of .399 in the sample of graduated students. This was the highest validity coefficient produced for this variable over all studies.

Using a sample of graduated students from this study and a previous study resulted in a regression equation utilizing UGPA, GMAT total score and years since receipt of bachelor's degree. This equation was statistically significant and produced a multiple R of .438.

It is recommended that the College of Business Administration use the variables UGPA, GMAT total score and years since receipt of bachelor's degree in the selection of candidates to the MBA program.