Estimated Effects of Four Factors on Academic Performance Before and After Transfer.
This study proposes an analytical design for assessing the contribution of four factors to academic performance of students transferring from one college to another. Average grades “before” transfer and for various periods “after” transfer were computed for the transferring students and for a matched sample of native students. Using these averages, the contribution of four factors–differential grading standards, preparation for advanced work, academic potential, and coping ability–to the difference between the average “before” transfer and the average for the first quarter “after” transfer for the transferring students were estimated. In the illustrative data, the largest contributor to an observed decrement of 1. 21 letter grades was differential grading standards. The factor seemingly contributing least to the decrement was preparation for advanced work.