The Long-Term Predictive Validity of an Academic Self-Concept Measure Relative to Criteria of Secondary School Grades Earned over Eleven Semesters

Abstract

In a longitudinal investigation spanning approximately five years with an initial sample of 240 junior high school students, the subscales of the Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC) revealed declining predictive validity coefficients relative to criteria of secondary school grades. Nevertheless, the Level of Aspiration subscale consistently exhibited significant predictive validities of student success during each of four time segments. During the four temporal periods investigated the median validity coefficients of the Level of Aspiration subscale from the first to the last were .49, .46, .42, and .37—all values being significant beyond the .01 level.