This study attempts to discover whether a correlation exists between scores earned on the PGAT and the Registry. The hypothesis of this study states that PGAT scores directly correlate with Registry examination scores and as a result are accurate predictors of success on the Registry exam. The validity of the Registry examination is accepted. Academic achievement varies among students. Motivation is a variable which can affect academic performance of students regardless of test scores.
Some students test poorly on standardized tests regardless of subject matter and test preparation.
This test was designed to assess the students' overall knowledge of radiography prior to their graduation from the radiography program. The PGAT was initially administered to the graduating class of 1989. It has continually been evaluated and refined to ensure that it reflects not only the program's terminal competencies, but also the content specifications of the Registry examination. The reliability of the PGAT was mathematically determined through use of the Spearman-Brown reliability formula. This method compared scores on the even and odd test items to obtain a correlation coefficient which was then used in a statistical formula to find the reliability.