Open AccessSelection criteria for a radiography programme in South Africa: Predictors for academic success in the first year of study
Author(s) -
Carol Anne Kridiotis,
Johan Bezuidenhout,
Jacques Raubenheimer
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
health sa gesondheid
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.247
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2071-9736
pISSN - 1025-9848
DOI - 10.4102/hsag.v21i0.955
Subject(s) - matriculation , certificate , medical education , selection (genetic algorithm) , academic year , bachelor , longitudinal study , psychology , test (biology) , statistical analysis , medicine , mathematics education , computer science , political science , pathology , statistics , mathematics , paleontology , algorithm , artificial intelligence , law , biology
Background: Selection criteria used to admit students to a radiography programme at the Central University of Technology (CUT) included academic criteria, as well as the General Scholastic Aptitude Test (GSAT) and Self-directed Search (SDS) Questionnaire.Aims and objectives: The aim of the study was to identify which selection criteria were predictors of academic success in the first year of study. As a four year Bachelor's degree in Radiography (480 credits) was to replace the three year National Diploma (NDip) in Radiography (360 credits), selection criteria would come under review.Design and method: Data from 130 students were gathered in a retrospective quantitative study. Data were edited, categorised and summarised. A statistical analysis was undertaken to identify which selection criteria predicted academic success in the first year of study.Results: Statistics showed that the matriculation Admission Points Score (National Senior Certificate/NCS APS) and core matriculation subject results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English were adequate predictors for first-year academic success, and the subjects Life Sciences for the NSC and Biology for the Senior Certificate (SC), showed strong predictive values for first-year academic success. According to the statistical analysis, the GSAT and SDS Questionnaire did not contribute any significant information which could predict academic success.Conclusion: Matriculation marks and NSC APS were adequate predictors for academic success, with a focus on Life Sciences or Biology marks as the strongest predictor. The usefulness of the GSAT and SDS Questionnaire could be questioned, and a recommendation was made to replace these tests with alternative student selection methods.