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ten year study of predictors of student success on the Advanced Placement Computer Science examination

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Date Issued:
1995
Summary:
This study examined a model to predict success on the Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) examination. The sample included all students (N = 423) who participated in the APCS program in the Palm Beach County Public School System from 1985 to 1994. Predictor variables consisted of the number of courses taken in specific content areas at the secondary level, semester grades in the APCS course, grade point average, and gender. Multiple regression analysis indicated the significance of these variables in predicting the score on the APCS examination (F (12,280) = 5.848, p $<$.001). Further discriminant analysis identified the most accurate subset of predictors. All students were divided into two groups based on their scores on the APCS examination (pass/fail). The variables that occurred most frequently in the best subsets included the number of semesters taken in advanced mathematics; overall high school grade point average; gender; the grades achieved in both first and second semester in Advanced Placement Computer Science; and the semesters in computers. A model based on these six predictors had the highest (p $<$.01) predictive accuracy of all models studied (67.6% hit rate). Additional study of other independent variables that contribute to success on the APCS examination is needed.
Title: A ten year study of predictors of student success on the Advanced Placement Computer Science examination.
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Name(s): Cornnell, Walter A., author
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Morris, John D., Thesis advisor
Weppner, Daniel B., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1995
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, FL
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 91 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: This study examined a model to predict success on the Advanced Placement Computer Science (APCS) examination. The sample included all students (N = 423) who participated in the APCS program in the Palm Beach County Public School System from 1985 to 1994. Predictor variables consisted of the number of courses taken in specific content areas at the secondary level, semester grades in the APCS course, grade point average, and gender. Multiple regression analysis indicated the significance of these variables in predicting the score on the APCS examination (F (12,280) = 5.848, p $<$.001). Further discriminant analysis identified the most accurate subset of predictors. All students were divided into two groups based on their scores on the APCS examination (pass/fail). The variables that occurred most frequently in the best subsets included the number of semesters taken in advanced mathematics; overall high school grade point average; gender; the grades achieved in both first and second semester in Advanced Placement Computer Science; and the semesters in computers. A model based on these six predictors had the highest (p $<$.01) predictive accuracy of all models studied (67.6% hit rate). Additional study of other independent variables that contribute to success on the APCS examination is needed.
Identifier: 12427 (digitool), FADT12427 (IID), fau:9322 (fedora)
Degree granted: Thesis (Ed.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1995.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): College of Education
Subject(s): Advanced placement programs (Education)
Computer science--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Florida--Palm Beach County
Prediction of scholastic success
Education--Data processing
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12427
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.