The Personal Readiness Evaluation for Postsecondary (PREP): a development and validation study

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. September 2012. Major: Educational Psychology. Advisor: Sandra L. Christenson. 1 computer file (PDF); vi, 177 pages, appendices A-E.The purpose of this study was to develop and establish validity evidence for the Personal Readiness Evaluation for Postsecondary (PREP), a tool designed to measure personal readiness for college of high school students early enough in the students' journey to college that the information can be used to inform interventions that can in turn increase the students' readiness for success in postsecondary education. Personal readiness for college was defined as the dimension of college readiness pertaining to students' self-regulated learning ability including their self-efficacy and their ability to engage in academic behaviors such as planning, setting learning goals, managing their time, using study skills, putting forth effort, and persisting in the face of challenges. This study was conducted in three phases: Phase I - instrument development, Phase II - pilot study and instrument refinement, and Phase III - testing of the refined instrument. The study consisted of one sample of 7th-12th graders (n = 451) and three separate samples of 9-12th grade students (sample 1: n = 1643, sample 2: n = 497, and sample 3 n = 385), all in a Midwestern state. Analyses utilized included confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, reliability analysis, and chi-square tests. Validity evidence gathered included evidence based on theory, content, internal structure, and relations to other variables. Findings from the study suggest that the PREP can be used appropriately with high school students to measure their self-efficacy and expectations, effort and persistence, and self-regulated learning (aspects of personal readiness for college), and that information obtained through students' completion of the PREP can provide students, parents, and teachers with an indicator of whether or not the students are in need of extra support in developing personal readiness for college