Predicting Postsecondary Education and Employment Outcomes Using Results From the Transition Assessment and Goal Generator

• Published in: Career development and transition for exceptional individuals Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 111 - 121
• Main Authors: Burnes, Jennifer J., Martin, James E., Terry, Robert, McConnell, Amber E., Hennessey, Maeghan N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-05-2018; SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities
• Subjects: Academic Support Services; Correlation; Disabilities; Educational Attainment; Employment Level; Goal Orientation; Grade Point Average; High School Graduates; High School Students; Individualized Education Programs; Interaction; Postsecondary Education; Predictive Validity; Predictor Variables; Regression (Statistics); Statistical Analysis; Student Participation; Student Personnel Services; Student Surveys; Teacher Surveys; Transitional Programs; predictive validity; postsecondary employment outcomes; nonacademic student behaviors; secondary-aged students with disabilities; transition assessment; relation to other variables validity evidence; postsecondary education outcomes
• ISSN: 2165-1434; 2165-1442
• DOI: 10.1177/2165143417705353

We conducted an exploratory study to investigate the relation between nonacademic behavior constructs measured by the Transition Assessment and Goal Generator (TAGG) and postsecondary education and employment outcomes for 297 high school leavers who completed the TAGG during their high school years. Four of eight TAGG constructs predicted postsecondary educational outcomes: (a) Interacting With Others, (b) Student Involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP), (c) Support Community, and (d) Goal Setting and Attainment. Four constructs predicted postsecondary employment outcomes: (a) Employment, (b) Student Involvement in the IEP, (c) Support Community, and (d) Interacting With Others. The addition of student grade point average (GPA) strengthened some of the models. The findings appear to add predictive validity evidence to support use of TAGG results to assist with transition planning.