Predicting success in the engineering college

Abstract

This is the report of a study in predicting success in the College of Engineering of the University of Oklahoma, based on the records of 107 students. The criterion is scholarship, as represented by honor points, in courses in advanced engineering on the undergraduate level. The independent variables are the honor points gained in certain freshman engineering courses, namely, mathematics, introductory engineering and mechanical drawing, and the score on the Otis Advanced Intelligence Scale. A kind of critical score technique is used in comparing the predicted scores with the observed scores. Of 36 exceptional students (i.e., students whose honor points lie above or below the critical points) 86% could have been fairly definitely placed with respect to their potential ability in advanced engineering courses at the end of the freshman year. The score on the Otis Advanced Intelligence Scale and honor points in freshman courses constitute "only a fairly accurate basis" for determining potential ability of students in advanced engineering courses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)