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Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) as a Predictor of Success on the Revised General Educational Development Tests (GED) in a Correctional Setting

NCJ Number
79971
Author(s)
J F Littlefield; W D Dowling
Date Published
Unknown
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Findings are presented from a study of the value of the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) as a predictor of success in a correctional setting of the revised General Educational Development tests.
Abstract
Adult educators have had few guidelines to predict performance of adult learners on the high school equivalency exam. In an attempt to determine the value of the TABE as a predictor for the tests of General Educational Development (GED) in a correctional setting, inmates at the Chillicothe Correctional Institute of Ohio were self-selected themselves into two groups. One group received formal preparation, while the other group did not receive formal instruction. The TABE was administered to the inmates about 2 or 3 months prior to taking the GED test. Based on a t-test for independence, the two groups showed no significant differences, except that the nonprep group was significantly younger than the prep group. A stepwise multiple regression was performed with the TABE subtest scores as the predictor variables and the GED total test average as the criterion variable. A coefficient of determination of .435 was reported. Further study is needed with a larger number of participants to determine the consistency of the results to determine future guidelines. Tabular data and a bibliography with six listings are provided. (Author abstract modified)