Date of Graduation

Spring 2017

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Carol Shoptaugh

Abstract

This project expands upon a previous study examining the effectiveness of non-cognitive variables in predicting cumulative grade point average for a sample of college students from Missouri State University. A total of 291 introductory psychology students and/or recipients of a multicultural leadership scholarship completed a questionnaire during the fall 2013 semester. The questionnaire assessed the following variables: (a) institutional integration, (b) university environment, (c) cultural congruity, (d) dispositional resilience/ hardiness, (e) academic self-efficacy, (f) big five personality factors, and (g) demographic variables- including family education and household income. The current data collection included cumulative GPA at the completion of summer and fall semesters of 2016. Regression analyses were conducted to examine which predictors were related to cumulative GPA. Intellectual and academic development was the only significant predictor for both summer and fall 2016 GPA. Future research should examine the impact of these non-cognitive variables in educational institutions when attempting to increase student retention.

Keywords

academic success, non-cognitive factors, student retention, cumulative GPA, degree attainment

Subject Categories

Psychology

Copyright

© Alexandra Pantze

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Psychology Commons

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