Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Nicholas Turiano
Committee Co-Chair
Amy Gentzler
Committee Member
Amy Gentzler
Committee Member
Mariya Cherkasova
Abstract
Despite mounting evidence for the role of personality in predicting college level academic performance, there are aspects of this association that are still unexplained. With a sample of U.S. undergraduates at a large Appalachian university, this study sought to further establish what is already known about the association between personality and grade point average, credits earned, and retention rates by testing for both linear and quadratic effects. Results showed linear positive effects of conscientiousness, negative linear effects of openness and nonlinear effects of neuroticism for GPA. However, personality traits were not associated with either retention or credits earned. These findings suggest that neuroticism may be predictive of GPA in ways previous research has not uncovered and suggests certain personality traits may be curvilinearly associated with GPA. Moreover, these findings should encourage administrators and researchers to understand how to foster certain personality traits in college students.
Recommended Citation
Alderson, Jacob E., "Personality and Academic Performance in College" (2023). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12016.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12016
Included in
Educational Psychology Commons, Higher Education Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons