Q: What is the Validity Study Service (VSS)?
A: The Validity Study Service is a free service conducted by
GMAC® that enables a school to determine the amount of predictive validity of factors used in their admissions process. You provide the data, we do the statistical analyses and help you with the interpretations to help you get the most out of your study and out of your admissions process.
Q: What data do I need to conduct this study?
A: You need to include GMAT® Total, Verbal, and Quantitative raw scores, and mid-program grade point average. You can add other variables to enhance the study for your school, including additional predictors, such as undergraduate grade point average, additional outcomes, such as grades in quantitative classes, or grouping variables such as gender.
Q: How many students do I need to conduct a study?
A: There is no absolute minimum number of students needed to conduct a study, though we recommend at least 100 students. If needed, you can combine multiple classes of students to get a larger dataset as long as the variables, such as mid-program grades, are all measured in the same manner.
Q: When can I conduct a study?
A: Studies can be conducted at any time during the year, though requests are commonly submitted in the summer, after first-year grades are available for a cohort of students.
Q: How often should I conduct a validity study?
A: We generally recommend that each program conduct a study at least once every three years, though more frequent studies may be necessary if there have been significant changes in your program.
Q: Can I customize the validity study to fit my program?
A: Absolutely! The uniqueness of individual programs is why conducting validity studies is so important. You can define additional predictors and different outcome measures. You can specify subgroups of students that you are interested in studying. GMAC® staff members are available to help you design a study that will best answer your program’s needs and can be contacted at VSS@gmac.com.
Q: What will I gain by conducting this study?
A: The report you receive contains valuable information about your admissions factors, such as the relative importance of each of the factors studied relative to predicting academic performance, the value of the admissions process over open admission, a probability of success table that can help you identify students who may be at risk of academic difficulty, and if designated in your study design, a comparison of the performance of students admitted under special circumstances. The report is written in language that is non-technical and easy to understand and contains numerous graphs and charts for ease of interpretation. A sample report is available.
Q: Where can I get more information about conducting a validity study?
A: For additional information, please email vss@gmac.com.
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