Masters Theses
Date of Award
12-1988
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Major
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Major Professor
John M. Larsen Jr
Committee Members
Joyce Russell, John Lounsbury
Abstract
Historically, the predictors of MBA success were measured against the criterion of graduate grade point average. It has been suggested that whether or not the degree is granted is a more useful criteria by which to measure success. Also, the past studies of MBA success at The University of Tennessee have not included sufficiently large samples of women to Investigate sex differences in relation to the prediction of MBA success.
The present study attempted to validate predictor variables as they relate to success in the MBA program. This involved the investigation of several criteria of MBA success (graduate grade point average, first year graduate grade point average, and graduation) and several predictors of success (past academic performance and achievement on the Graduate Management Admissions Test).
Files of 451 MBA applicants were obtained from the College of Business Administration. These files consisted of 310 MBA applicants who were admitted to the program between Winter 1979 and Fall 1986. Of these. 200 MBA students (141 males and 59 females) had graduated from the program between Fall 1983 and Winter 1987, while 110 MBA students (75 males and 35 females) were inactive in the program. An opportune sample of 141 applicants to the MBA program who were denied admission from the time period of Summer 1987 to Fall 1988 was also obtained. This sample was used only to correct for restriction in range. The study was limited to files which had relatively complete information.
It was found that undergraduate grade point average predicted graduate grade point average, graduate grade point average for the first half of the MBA program, and graduation. The GMAT predicted the first year graduate grade point average of all MBA students and graduate grade point average of MBA graduates. While sex did not enter the regression equations as a predictor variable, there were differences between the sexes: among, them, men were more readily predictable than women.
Recommended Citation
Werner, Heidi Sue, "An investigation of predictors in relation to MBA success. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1988.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/13372