Relating college course grades to attendance

This study compared the attendance records of students against their test score averages for students at four institutions across multiple sections of several difference courses over a fourteen year period (N = 1617). Results indicated that attendance significantly influences test score averages for students across sections and institutions (R2 = .181). Other results indicated that the same relationship holds when controlling for institutional, course subject, and whether an attendance policy was enforced. Implications for these findings in terms of approaches to attendance policy making are discussed.