O Processo de seleção ao mestrado em Educação: percepções de candidatos

Abstract

The present study centers on the perceptions of candidates for the Master in Education Program of a private university in the Middle-West region of Brazil, regarding the Program’s admission process. A questionnaire made up of 26 items (6 dealing with demographics and 20 with perceptions) was returned by mail by 47 of the 186 candidates who participated in the admission process, year 2003. Each one of the 20 propositions was followed by fi ve-point Likert scales (strongly agree…strongly disagree). The study addressed three research questions. The fi rst, which asked about the factors that underlie the perceptions the candidates have about the admission process, revealed three factors: validity of the process, practicality, and the third, whose identity could not be discerned. The second question asked about the nature of the questionnaire used, particularly its homogeneity. Cronbach´s alpha obtained a value of 0,79 for the fi rst factor (validity of the process), 0,52 for the second (practicality), and 0,52 for the third factor, attesting to the adequate validity of the instrument. Finally, the third question sought to identify positive and negative aspects of the admission process. Among the fi ve positive aspects indicated was that the candidate would resubmit to the admission process if needed; of the negative aspects, the absence of an interview was highlighted. The study, as well as the instrument used, has the potential of being administered to the admission process of other Master programs.