Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

One-year experimental study of the ACT objective test with non-traditional students

  • Published:
Innovative Higher Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Curriculum Committee of the General College (GC) at the University of Minnesota selected the ACT Objective Test to assess general educational outcomes, educational gains, and to provide an individual assessment of academic achievement for graduating Associate of Arts degree candidates.

Data analyses to assess general educational outcomes revealed that GC Associate of Arts degree candidates scored significantly lower than an ACT national sample on total score and four out of six subscores.

Data analyses to assess educational gains revealed no significant differences between three comparison groups of GC students: Associate of Arts candidates, GC sophomores, and GC freshman; although there was a significant difference on grade-point average (GPA).

Finally, data analyses to assess ethnic group performance revealed significant differences between four ethnic groups, although there were no significant differences on GPA. In addition, it was discovered that the relationship between total score and GPA was strongly positive for the Black and Caucasian groups but was negative for the Asian and Other groups.

Thus, since the ACT Objective Test did not provide an adequate measure of educational gains, and it appears that the ACT Objective Test might possibly be a culturally biased instrument, it was decided to discontinue use of the ACT Objective Test in the General College after the one-year experimental period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Forrest, A. (1982).Increasing student competence and persistence the best case for general education. ACT National Center for the Advancement of Educational Practices.

  • Forrest, A. & Steele, J.M. (1982).Defining and measuring general education knowledge and skills (Technical Report 1976-81) American College Testing Program.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Minnesota, 164 Appleby Hall, 55455, Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Gloria B. Wood

Authors
  1. Gloria B. Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Gloria B. Wood received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota. She teaches psychology and career planning to a predominantly nontraditional and under-prepared college population. Her research interests include: cognitive development and learning styles; the psychological and motivational variables related to academic performance; and variables related to career assessment and development.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wood, G.B. One-year experimental study of the ACT objective test with non-traditional students. Innov High Educ 15, 29–41 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889735

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00889735

Keywords

Search

Navigation