A Researcher\u27s Dilemma: A Comparison of Estimated versus Actual College G.P.A.

This study compared college student reported grade point average (GPA) with actual GPA as recorded at the Registrar’s Office to determine the accuracy of student reported GPA. Results indicated that, on average, students reported slightly higher GPA than their actual GPA. Additionally, females were virtually as accurate as males and students with high GPA’s were more accurate than students with lower GPA’s. Since 17% of unexplained variance in actual GPA was found based upon student GPA estimates, the findings support the recommendation that researchers employ the actual GPA recorded in the Registrar’s Office whenever possible and feasible