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Cognitive skills, personality, and economic preferences in collegiate success

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  • Burks, Stephen V.
  • Lewis, Connor
  • Kivi, Paul A.
  • Wiener, Amanda
  • Anderson, Jon E.
  • Götte, Lorenz
  • DeYoung, Colin G.
  • Rustichini, Aldo

Abstract

We collected multiple measures from 100 students at a small public undergraduate liberal arts college in the Midwestern US and later assessed their academic success. The “proactive” (hard-working, persistent) aspect of the Big Five trait of Conscientiousness and not its “inhibitive” (organized, careful) aspect is a large positive predictor for two graduation outcomes and grade point average (GPA). The Big Five trait of Agreeableness (“pro-sociality”) is a large and negative predictor for graduation outcomes. A non-standard cognitive skill measure (a backward-induction game) positively predicts graduation outcomes, in parallel with its success in predicting vocational student job success (Burks et al., 2009). Patient time preferences predict one graduation outcome and GPA.

Suggested Citation

  • Burks, Stephen V. & Lewis, Connor & Kivi, Paul A. & Wiener, Amanda & Anderson, Jon E. & Götte, Lorenz & DeYoung, Colin G. & Rustichini, Aldo, 2015. "Cognitive skills, personality, and economic preferences in collegiate success," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 30-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:115:y:2015:i:c:p:30-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2015.01.007
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    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • C99 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Other

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