A comparative study of industrial arts students and non-industrial arts students at Maine Township High School West, Des Plaines, Illinois

Includes bibliographical references (pages 59-60)Purpose of the Study. The purpose of this study was to provide a description of the general ability level of male students enrolled in industrial arts courses at Maine Township High School West, Des Plaines, Illinois, as indicated by selected standardized test scores. Certain comparisons were made between the general ability level of industrial arts students and that of students not enrolled in industrial arts courses in order to provide a basis for this description. Source of Data and Method of Study. The data were obtained from the personal cumulative record cards of three hundred eight male students of the high school. The information drawn from these record cards included scores from the SRA High School Placement Test, the Illinois Statewide High School Testing Program, and the titles of the industrial arts courses completed. Statistical analysis was accomplished by use of either Garrett's or Edwards' "t" ratio for testing the significance of difference between two independent means. Summary. The significant facts revealed by analysis of these data were: The non-industrial arts students were found to have a significantly higher mean intelligence quotient and ranked significantly higher with respect to the mean percentile scores obtained from all sections of the Illinois Statewide High School Testing Program than did the industrial arts students. Students enrolled in both Mechanical Drawing and Electricity were found to have a significantly higher mean intelligence quotient and ranked significantly higher with respect to Total Academic Aptitude mean percentile score than did students enrolled in certain other industrial arts areas. No significant difference was found to exist between the industrial arts students who completed one industrial arts course, those who completed two industrial arts courses, and those who completed three or more industrial arts courses with respect to both mean intelligence quotient and Total Academic Aptitude mean percentile score. Similarly, no significant difference was found to exist between the industrial arts students who completed more than one industrial arts course in a single area of industrial arts and those who completed more than one indus­trial arts course each of which were in different areas of industrial arts with respect to mean intelligence quotient and Total Academic Aptitude mean percentile score. Conclusions. To the extent that the data gathered were valid, certain conclusions regarding male students of Maine Township High School West, Des Plaines, Illinois, may be made. The Industrial arts students are somewhat limited with respect to level of intelligence, level of aoademic aptitude, and level of writing and reading achievement when compared to non-industrial arts students. Students enrolled in certain areas of industrial arts are more limited in these same respects than are students enrolled In certain other areas.M.S. (Master of Science