CREDIT BY EXAMINATION: A FUNCTIONAL LINKAGE BETWEEN POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS IN NURSING

ODESSIE GOODWIN TAYLOR, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

Statement of Problem. One recent trend in postsecondary educational institutions is an increase in the number and types of transfer students. While the mechanisms allowing for movement of students within the traditional higher education sector have become well established, procedures for the transfer of nontraditional students from one institution to another are just developing. Credit by examination provides a functional linkage between these institutions but has a limited history with regard to its usage and effectiveness. This study was concerned with the use of the New York Proficiency Examination Program (PEP) in awarding credit. The problem studied was in two parts: what is the concurrent and predictive validity of two test batteries in relation to specific criterion measures; and do the test batteries differentiate between high and low achievers in the norm group? The six research questions posed were: (1) what is the difference between the mean scores of the sample and the New York norm group on examinations of two PEP test batteries?; (2) what is the relationship between the PEP examination scores and those of concurrent criterion variables?; (3) what is the relationship between the PEP test scores and those on various criterion measures when the sample is divide into groups according to age and specific baccalaureate admission criteria?; (4) what is the difference of the mean State Board Test Pool Examination (SBTPE) scores when the group is divided into groups according to a PEP standard score?; (5) which PEP test battery scores or part thereof accounts for most of the variance in SBTPE scores and cumulative GPA?; and (6) what is the relationship of the PEP tests to predictive criterion measures? Procedures. The sample of two hundred and twenty students who graduated from an associate degree program in nursing completed the PEP examinations and the various criterion measures during a three month period. Criterion measures utilized were five National League for Nursing (NLN) achievement tests, State Board Test Pool Examinations, associate course grades, associate cumulative grade-point average, baccalaureate course grades and baccalaureate grade-point average. The PEP test batteries used were: the examinations developed for the New York's External Associate Degree Program in Nursing (Battery I); and the examinations used by the New York's Regents to award credit in specific clinical courses (Battery II). Findings and Recommendations. The findings of the study are summarized as follows. First, the mean scores on PEP examinations for the study subjects were significantly higher than those of the New York norm group. Second, the PEP examination scores for both batteries were moderately to strongly related to the scores on all concurrent criterion measures. Tests in the first battery showed relationships of a higher magnitude. Third, the PEP instruments showed varying relationships with the criterion variables for the groups of young and old students and for subjects who did or did not meet baccalaureate admission criteria. Fourth, when the sample was divided according to the (+OR-) 45 standard score on PEP examinations, the mean scores on SBTPE for these two groups were significantly different. Fifth, the first test battery accounted for more of the variance in SBTPEs. Three tests were mostly responsible: Commonalities II, and Differences I and II. Finally, PEP examinations in the first and second batteries were moderately related to predictive measures. Five recommendations were derived from the data.

Subject Area

Educational evaluation

Recommended Citation

TAYLOR, ODESSIE GOODWIN, "CREDIT BY EXAMINATION: A FUNCTIONAL LINKAGE BETWEEN POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS IN NURSING" (1979). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8012751.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8012751

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