Prior Achievement and Life History Factors as Predictors of the Grade Point Averages of High School Seniors

Abstract

With stratified samples of average ability and achievement level of male ( N = 123) and female ( N = 144) high school seniors, the authors used Grade 7 norm percentile ranks on a standardized achievement test battery and 19 Life History factors as predictors of over-all senior high school achievement. The estimated population multiple correlation coefficients were .59 and .56 for males and females, respectively. Suggestions are made for collecting specific items of information in Grade 7 as prognostic of successful high school achievement. Similar results would probably be obtained with atypical students.