A case study versus science.

Comments on the article by R. J. Sternberg and W. M. Williams (see record 1997-04591-002) regarding the empirical validity of the Graduate Record Examination in predicting graduate student performance in psychology. It is argued that Sternberg and Williams's study suffers from severe range restriction in the predictor and the criteria and from unreliable criteria. It is agreed that the study was correctly characterized as a case study rather than a validation study; however, a case study from a very selective school adds little or nothing to the scientific knowledge base unless it considers fundamental factors such as range restriction in the predictor and criterion and their reliability. A more empirical approach is suggested if this line of research is to make a contribution to science. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)