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Longitudinal tracking of academic progress during teacher preparation
Author(s) -
Corcoran Roisin P.,
O'Flaherty Joanne
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of educational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.557
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 2044-8279
pISSN - 0007-0998
DOI - 10.1111/bjep.12171
Subject(s) - psychology , academic achievement , tracking (education) , longitudinal sample , latent growth modeling , sample (material) , mathematics education , medical education , pedagogy , developmental psychology , medicine , chemistry , chromatography
Background Given that the ultimate academic goal of many education systems in the developed world is for students to graduate from college, grades have a considerable bearing on how effective colleges are in meeting their primary objective. Prior academic performance informs predominantly the selection and retention of teacher candidates. However, there remains a dearth of evidence linking academic performance with outcomes in teacher preparation or the workplace. Aim This study examined pre‐service teachers' trajectories of academic growth during teacher preparation. Sample The sample comprised 398 pre‐service teachers – 282 (70.8%) males and 116 (29.1%) females. Method Academic growth was measured across eight time points over the course of 4 years. Pre‐service teachers' academic growth was analysed using linear and nonlinear latent growth models. Results Results indicate that academic growth was quadratic and, over time, decelerated, with no evidence of the Matthew effect or the compensatory effect. There was evidence of a connection between prior academic attainment and current grades. Conclusion Greater attention to academic growth during the college years, and particularly among pre‐service teachers, may enable greater achievement support for students.