I have been asked by the VP to look at the validity of the screening tests used by the English and Math Departments. The general idea is to look at the scores on the two tests and see how well they predict subsequent grades. Another task would be to compare the grades students get in English 1A with the grades they get in English A e.g. what percentage of student who get an C in IA pass English A. I know I can do sorting for Grades in A by Grades in 1A and get Chi squares with any of my stats programs. My question is, however, What test of correlation do I use to compare a numerical score on a test to a letter grade? Would I be better off converting numerical scores into quintiles? I am somewhat vague about the details but I know that ties affect correlations. By using either method I will end up with a lot of ties in the since the range of grades is only 1-5. I would appreciate a reference to the authority on whatever method you suggest because I know the math department will be livid with rage that I am doing this. The psych department got into a knockdown dragout ugly battle with the math folk over our offering a stats class in the psych curriculum. The head honcho stats guy stated flatly that psychologists don't know how to use statistics, teach statistics or interpret stats. A couple of them still won't talk to us!
Harry Avis PhD Sierra College Rocklin, CA 95677 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Life is opinion - Marcus Aurelius There is nothing that is good or bad, but that thinking makes it so - Shakespeare _________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
