How Accurate Are Self-Reported High School Courses, Course Grades, and Grade Point Average?

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: New Developments in Psychometrics, Measurement, and Assessment: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Education researchers and postsecondary personnel often use student self-reported coursework and grades. This study examines the accuracy of self-reported coursework and grades with high school transcript data from a Midwestern state. Results show that self-reported information is a reasonably accurate representation of students’ high school experience. Over 90% of students accurately self-reported coursework and reported grades within a letter grade of their transcript grade. Strong positive correlations were found between self-reported and transcript grades as well as for overall HSGPA. The accuracy of coursework and grades differed little by gender, race/ethnicity, and low-income status. The results indicate that self-reported coursework and grades are reasonably valid measures for researchers and for preliminary screening of students by postsecondary personnel.

Authors

• Edgar I. Sanchez, ACT, Inc.

• Richard Buddin, ACT, Inc.