Several study programmes (e.g., Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy) enjoy a great popularity among University applicants which is highly valuable for the respective disciplines. Nevertheless, the number of study places is limited and often substantially lower than the number of persons applying for them. This leads to the necessity of implementing student selection processes. As associated study degrees are the main entry criteria for many professions that have a particular importance for society as a whole these processes should be conceptualized in a very deliberate way. In this context, a plethora of theoretical, practical, and political considerations have to be made and investigated empirically.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive international overview over issues associated with student selection processes. Especially, we aim at enabling a constructive exchange between researchers, university administrators, and policymakers which should ultimately result in an improvement of selection processes.
Empirical as well as theoretical contributions are welcome as long as they are scientifically sound and helpful to improve student selection processes. Interesting topics include (but are not limited to):
-The development of tests assessing prerequisites of study success (e.g., intellectual abilities, knowledge, personality aspects, soft skills);
-The measurement of study success (e.g., grades, trustable professional activities, professional success);
-The comparison of different selection criteria (e.g., school grades, test results, professional experience)
-Questions of test fairness and selection bias (e.g., measurement invariance, differential item functioning)
-Other aspects that are relevant in the context of student selection (e.g., digitalization, selection policies, national differences, widening participation).
Several study programmes (e.g., Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy) enjoy a great popularity among University applicants which is highly valuable for the respective disciplines. Nevertheless, the number of study places is limited and often substantially lower than the number of persons applying for them. This leads to the necessity of implementing student selection processes. As associated study degrees are the main entry criteria for many professions that have a particular importance for society as a whole these processes should be conceptualized in a very deliberate way. In this context, a plethora of theoretical, practical, and political considerations have to be made and investigated empirically.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive international overview over issues associated with student selection processes. Especially, we aim at enabling a constructive exchange between researchers, university administrators, and policymakers which should ultimately result in an improvement of selection processes.
Empirical as well as theoretical contributions are welcome as long as they are scientifically sound and helpful to improve student selection processes. Interesting topics include (but are not limited to):
-The development of tests assessing prerequisites of study success (e.g., intellectual abilities, knowledge, personality aspects, soft skills);
-The measurement of study success (e.g., grades, trustable professional activities, professional success);
-The comparison of different selection criteria (e.g., school grades, test results, professional experience)
-Questions of test fairness and selection bias (e.g., measurement invariance, differential item functioning)
-Other aspects that are relevant in the context of student selection (e.g., digitalization, selection policies, national differences, widening participation).