PurposeThis study evaluated the use of two psychometric measures as predictors of end of year outcome for first year university students.
DesignNew undergraduates (N=537) were recruited in two contrasting universities: one arts based, and one science, in different cities in the UK. At the start of the academic year, new undergraduates across 30 programmes in the two institutions were invited to complete a survey comprising two psychometric measures: Academic Behavioural Confidence Scale and the Performance Expectation Ladder. Outcome data were collected from the Examining Boards the following summer distinguishing those who were able to progress to the following year of study without further assessment from those were not.
FindingsTwo of the four Confidence subscales, Attendance and Studying, had significantly lower scores amongst students who were not able to progress the following June compared to those who did (p<.003). The Ladder data showed the less successful group to anticipate a poorer performance at graduation relative to their year group than did the other group (p<.05).
ValueThe results suggest that these two psychometric measures could be instrumental in predicting those at risk of non-completion; such identification could enable the DETECTING UNCERTAINTY, PREDICTING OUTCOME 2 targeted use of limited resources to improve retention. Given the background of limited resources in which institutions are exhorted to improve retention rates, this approach, facilitating the early identification of those at risk of non-completion, could enable focussed use of additional support to reduce attrition.
Working within the multi-professional team, renal technicians play a greater part in the functioning of renal units than in other less technical areas of care. The role of the renal technician has been changing and, is now one that often combines technical, scientific and clinical knowledge in utilizing technology so that the long-term outcomes of the patient are optimised and complications reduced. Therefore a sound knowledge base is vital in ensuring patients' safety. Whilst still centered on the traditional engineering functions such as equipment repair and maintenance, the curriculum is structured to give a broad overview of renal related physiology, chemistry, treatment modalities and technology. The inclusion of these more clinical aspects in the curriculum reflects the change in the technician's role to a more science-based approach.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.