Home PublicationsJRTEPast IssuesVolume 31 Number 2

Edited by Diane McGrath, Kansas State University

formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

Predicting Academic Achievement of College Computer Science Majors

Tai-Sheng Fan and Yi-Ching Li
National Pingtung University of Science and Technology

Margaret L. Niess
Oregon State University

 Abstract

This study investigated whether student academic achievement in college computer science programs in Taiwan could be predicted by factors reported to be effective in U.S. studies. Subjects were 940 college students enrolled in five universities offering computer science programs. A correlation study was conducted and prediction models were established. The predictive powers of college entrance examination (CEE) scores in relation to subsequent college performance appeared to be limited. Overall high school achievement and math course averages were identified as effective performance predictors. The close relationship between performance in introductory computer science courses and performance in complete computer science programs was validated. Significant linear prediction models with limited predictive powers were generated for overall performance but not for introductory computer science course performance. Model predictive powers were significantly improved when performance in introductory computer science courses was included in the models. No significant gender differences were found for CEE performance. However, female subjects outperformed male counterparts in course performance at both the high school and college levels.

Contributors

Tai-Sheng Fan is an associate professor in the Department of Management Information Systems at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. He teaches courses in managerial psychology, computer ethics, and computer security management. His research interests include computer education, social impact, and legal issues related to the introduction of information technology. Yi-Ching Li is a professor in the Department of Applied Life Science at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, where she teaches courses in nutrition, diet therapy, community nutrition as well as love and marriage. With broad research interests, she is currently in charge of textbook evaluation and curriculum reforms of the vocational high school in Home Economics, Interior Layout, Food Science, Clothing, Child Care and Cosmetology programs in Taiwan. Margaret L. Niess is a professor and chair of the Science and Mathematics Education Department at Oregon State University. She teaches courses in methods and pedagogy as well as instructional technology. Her research interests include integrating technology into education, specifically science and mathematics education. She also works with gender-equity issues in preparing teachers in science, mathematics, and technology. (Address: Tai-Sheng Fan, Department of Management Information Systems, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Hsueh-Fu Rd., Neipu Hsiang, Pingtung, Taiwan ROC 91207; allen@mail.npust.edu.tw.)

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