The Validity of Admissions Predictions: Implications for Social Work Education

Abstract

This study of the validity of admissions predictions made by the full-time faculty of a school of social work showed some capacity of the faculty to predict classroom performance, but no ability to predict field performance. Interjudge reliability for the group was low, with an overall reliability coefficient of .47. Nearly half the faculty could significantly predict classroom performance, however, there was a strong tendency toward negative correlation between admissions ratings and field performance, particularly by field instruction faculty. The pooled judgments of three faculty raters were shown not to have any significant advantage over average individual judgments in validity terms.