[Study of a selection procedure designed for students of schools for medical technicians. (Completory note on the...

In a pilot-study aiming at an applicable procedure to select students for schools of medical technicians, 84 students were examined by psychological methods. The problem in question was, whether it is possible to estimate examination-marks on the basis of psychometric variables. The application of different statistical procedures (correlation, mutiple regression) showed, that the most exact estimation was obtained with a multiple regression employing six psychometric variables. Using the same methods on an enlarged sample (N = 180) the following results were received: 1. Taking the same six psychometric variables of the initial study for the multiple regression 63 per cent of the applicants would have qualified if a selection rate of 50 per cent was employed, according to Taylor and Russell. Own computations showed, that about half of the number of students who failed their examinations would not have been accepted. 2. A stepwise-regression-analysis was applied again to select the six "most favorable" variables for the enlarged collective. With the help of a new multiple regression another estimation of examination-marks showed the percentage of the qualified students to rise to a total of 69 (Taylor and Russell). The result of our computations were, that out of 53 students who failed their final examination, 40 would not have been accepted if a selection had taken place. These results are probably too positive. In spite of the relatively large sample and the given number of variables the problem of the vicious circle might occur. 3. Employing this selection of variables the psychological examination will take three hour.