PATTERNS IN MPA ADMISSION DECISION-MAKING: AN APPLICATION OF SOCIAL JUDGMENT THEORY

A recent study affirms that there is no one universal model in Master of Public Administration (MPA) admission decision-making. Using social judgment theory and Policy PC software allows one to examine MPA admission decision patterns at the individual program level. The analysis suggests that different judgmental rules are used when forecasting success predictors than when making admission decisions. Program officials make varied selection judgments on applicants holding the same rank on success prediction; oddly they may even prefer those with lower success predictions. When making admission decisions, more program representatives have curve utility functions on the credential criteria than when predicting success. The better the credentials, the greater the chance for future success. When making the admission decisions, however, these officials inexplicably select not necessarily the top-ranking candidates, but rather the qualified ones who satisfy the admission standards.