Making the grade? A meta-analysis of academic performance as a predictor of work performance and turnover

Chad H Van Iddekinge; John D Arnold; Sara J Krivacek; Rachel E Frieder; Philip L Roth

doi:10.1037/apl0001212

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Making the grade? A meta-analysis of academic performance as a predictor of work performance and turnover

Journal article

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Making the grade? A meta-analysis of academic performance as a predictor of work performance and turnover

Chad H Van Iddekinge, John D Arnold, Sara J Krivacek, Rachel E Frieder and Philip L Roth

Journal of applied psychology, Vol.109(12), pp.1972-1993

12/2024

DOI: 10.1037/apl0001212

PMID: 39190439

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Abstract

Many organizations assess job applicants’ academic performance (AP) when making selection decisions. However, researchers and practitioners recently have suggested that AP is not as relevant to work behavior as it used to be due to factors such as grade inflation and increased differences between academic and work contexts. The present meta-analysis examines whether, and under what conditions, AP is a useful predictor of work behavior. Mean correlations (corrected for error in the criterion) between AP and outcomes were .21 for job performance ( k = 114), .34 for training performance ( k = 8), and −.02 for turnover ( k = 20). There was considerable heterogeneity in validity estimates for job performance (80% credibility interval [.04, .37]). Moderator analyses revealed that AP is a better predictor of performance (a) for AP measures that are more relevant to students’ future jobs, (b) for professor ratings of AP than for grades and class rank, (c) for samples that include applicants from the same university or from the same major, and (d) for official records of AP than for applicant self-reports. Job relevance was the strongest and most consistent moderator with operational validities in the .30s and .40s for measures that assessed AP in major-specific courses or courses in which students are evaluated on behaviors relevant to their future jobs (e.g., practicum classes). Overall, researchers and organizations should carefully consider whether and how AP is relevant to particular jobs and outcomes, as well as use designs and measures that optimize the predictive value of AP. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

College Students

Academic Achievement Prediction

Educational Measurement

Employee Turnover

Human

Job Performance

Occupations

Details

Title: Subtitle: Making the grade? A meta-analysis of academic performance as a predictor of work performance and turnover
Creators: Chad H Van Iddekinge - University of Iowa
John D Arnold - University of Missouri
Sara J Krivacek - James Madison University
Rachel E Frieder - University of North Florida
Philip L Roth - Clemson University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied psychology, Vol.109(12), pp.1972-1993
Publisher: American Psychological Association
DOI: 10.1037/apl0001212
PMID: 39190439
ISSN: 0021-9010
eISSN: 1939-1854
Grant note: This research was partly supported by the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr., College of Business Large Grant Program and Department of Management Excellence Fund. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Boston, MA, United States.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 08/26/2024
Date published: 12/2024
Academic Unit: Management and Entrepreneurship
Record Identifier: 9984699045402771

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