Some Distinctive Characteristics of High-Achieving Irish Apprentices

Abstract

There is currently an upsurge of interest among Irish school leavers in craft apprenticeship training. This study sought to explore the distinctive characteristics of high-achieving apprentices from a representative national sample (N = 433) spanning 13 trades. The criteria of performance comprised measures of theory attainment (Cr1), practical proficiency (Cr2), and composite success (Cr3) in training. “High achievers” (defined as those scoring in the top-third of the criterion distribution) on Cr1 and Cr3 tended to be significantly more intelligent, more verbally gifted, more numerate, and more achievement-motivated than were their low-achieving colleagues (defined as those scoring in the bottom-third of the criterion distribution). No significant differences emerged when the construct profiles of equivalently defined groups on Cr2 were compared.