Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T03:39:18.686Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Brief Research Report - An Analysis of the Relationship Between Secondary and Tertiary Psychology Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2015

Cynthia Fan*
Affiliation:
Victoria University of Technology
Bernadette Hood
Affiliation:
Victoria University of Technology
*
Department of Psychology, Victoria University of Technology, St Albans Campus, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne Mail Centre, Melbourne 8001, Cynthia Fan@psychology @vut.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) secondary psychology course in preparing students for studying psychology at a tertiary level. First semester results of 228 first year psychology students at Victoria University of Technology were analysed. Of these students 60 had completed VCE Psychology in 1992. No significant differences were observed in overall semester one psychology performance between students who had completed VCE Psychology and those who had not. Regression analysis suggested that VCE aggregate score was a better predictor than the VCE Psychology score of overall performance in the first year psychology course. Subsequent correlation analyses demonstrated that VCE Psychology scores correlated significantly with tertiary psychology examination results but not with coursework requirements. VCE aggregate scores correlated with both examination and coursework requirements. These results suggest that completion of VCE Psychology does not advantage students entering tertiary psychology courses and educators need to analyse both the content and process of both secondary and tertiary psychology courses to facilitate more effective articulations for students.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Australian Psychological Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bailey, D.E., Emeleus, T.G., & Logan, P.F. (1988). Student performance and success predictors in the first year physics courses of applied science degree programs. Research and Development in Higher Education, 77, 215219.Google Scholar
Board of Studies. (1993). Statistical information: VCE assessment program. Melbourne: Board of Studies.Google Scholar
Everett, J.E., & Robins, J. (1991). Tertiary entrance predictors of first-year university performance. Australian Journal of Education, 35 (1), 2440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, J.J. (1983). Recent trends in secondary school psychology: The decade from Oberlin to the HBCP. Teaching of Psychology, 10 (4), 228229.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, S. (1989). Student perceptions of the first year experience. Research and Development in Higher Education, 12, 202204.Google Scholar
Lipton, A., Huxham, G., & Hamilton, D. (1987, December). School results as predictors of medical school achievement. Educational Research: Scientific or Political? Paper presented at the AARE/NZARE Conference, Christchurch, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Schofield, H. (1989, November). The predictive value of school-based assessment in tertiary selection. Research and future development of education in Australia. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education, Adelaide, Australia.Google Scholar
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board. (1992). Psychology: Course development support materials. Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board.Google Scholar