A predictive validity study of the Pharmacy College Admission Test.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the validity of Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores for predicting grade point averages (GPAs) of students in years 1-4 of pharmacy programs.


METHODS
Data were collected from 11 colleges and schools of pharmacy: entering cumulative and math/science GPAs, PCAT scaled scores, pharmacy program GPAs for years 1-4, student status after 4 years. Correlation, regression, discriminant, and diagnostic accuracy analyses were used to determine the validity of the PCAT for predicting subsequent GPAs.


RESULTS
PCAT scaled scores and entering GPAs were positively correlated with subsequent GPAs. Regression analyses showed the predictive value of the PCAT scores, especially in combination with entering GPAs. Discriminant and diagnostic accuracy analyses supported these findings and provided practical suggestions regarding optimal PCAT scores for identifying students most likely to succeed.


CONCLUSIONS
Both PCAT scaled scores and entering cumulative GPAs showed moderate to strong predictive validity as indicators of candidates likely to succeed in pharmacy school.
Meagher
Donald G
DG
Harcourt Assessment, Inc, San Antonio, Texas 78259, USA. don_meagher@harcourt.com
Lin
Anli
A
Stellato
Christina P
CP
D003099:College Admission Test; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013339:Students, Pharmacy