1. The University of North Carolina General Administration
The Relationship between Non-Cognitive Factors and Academic Outcomes
Eric Fotheringham, Research & Policy Analyst
Samantha McAuliffe, Dir. Special Projects & Strategic Assessment

3. Background and Context
State Systems Transformation Grant
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/USA Funds
Non-Cognitive/Dispositional Factors
Leading Scholars:
William Sedlecek, Carol Dweck, Angela Duckworth, Kathryn Connor & Jonathan Davidson, David Yeager, Gregory Walton, C.R. Snyder, Ed Diener, and others.
Redefining Student Success Conference

4. Why Non-Cognitive Factors
Higher Education researchers have extensively explored the reasons students do not persist but is only beginning to examine why students DO persist.
Examples of Reasons for Stop-Out
Examples of Reasons for Persistence
Academic Preparedness
Engagement
Financial Limitations
Sense of Belonging
Lack of engagement
Institutional Match

5. What are Non-Cognitive Factors
Non-cognitive Factors: Variables that do not measure intelligence or academic ability but have an effect on student success in college.

7. Identified Non-Cognitive Factors
Resilience
Hope
Self-perceived success in relationships, self-esteem, purpose, and optimism
Growth Mindset
Optimism
Grit
Satisfaction with Life

8. The Role of a System Office
To facilitate the identification and sharing of best practices
To advocate for promising new approaches to improving student success
To utilize system-level data to identify trends and areas for further research to assist institutions in making programmatic decisions

9. Introduction of Pilot Project
Pilot Concept
Participating Institutions
Measurement Tools
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale
Life Orientation Test Revised
Short Grit Scale
Adult Hope Scale
PERTS Growth Mindset Scale
Flourishing Scale
Satisfaction with Life Scale

10. Pilot Project Assessment Tools
Procedure for administration to multiple universities
Core measurement tools (5 institutions)
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale
Short Grit Scale
PERTS Growth Mindset Scale
Life Orientation Test Revised (3 Institutions)
Flourishing Scale (3 Institutions)
Satisfaction with Life Scale (2 Institutions)
Adult Hope Scale (2 Institutions)

11. Research Questions Overarching Research Question:
How are non-cognitive factors related to one another and academic achievement?
Specific Research Questions
Is there a relationship between measurement scales?
Is there a relationship between measurement scales and entering academic credentials (HS GPA/Entrance exams)?
Is there a relationship between measurement scales and first semester GPA?
Was there a statistically significant change in non-cognitive factor scores between first and second semester?

12. Academic Profile & Summary Statistics for Fall Survey
Category (n)
Mean High School GPA
Mean SAT*
Mean Fall 2015 GPA
Response Rate
Female (864)
3.42
908
2.94
22.4%
Male (371)
3.31
924
2.79
15.5%
American Indian (91)
3.45
931
2.85
26.3%
African American (825)
3.34
902
19.4%
Hispanic (63)
3.46
914
20.8%
White (163)
3.57
979
3.07
19.1%
Other (53)
3.44
928
3.09
18.9%
*SAT scores are pre-2016 changes in scoring format, includes ACT crosswalked scores

13. Non-Cognitive Scale Correlations
Scale (n)
Resilience
Growth Mindset
Grit
Life Orientation
Flourishing
Satisfaction with Life
Adult Hope
Resilience (1235)
1.00
0.10**
0.38**
0.13**
0.46**
0.36**
0.41**
Growth Mindset (1232)
-0.23**
0.07*
-0.13**
-0.03
Grit (1235)
0.31**
0.28**
Life Orientation (820)
0.20** -
Flourishing (830)
Satisfaction with Life (405)
0.39**
Adult Hope (405)
Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.01

14. Other Correlations Scale High School GPA SAT* Fall 2015 GPA Gender
Resilience
0.04
0.08**
0.09**
0.11**
Growth Mindset
0.07*
0.15**
0.10**
-0.03
Grit
0.02
-0.06*
Life Orientation
-0.06
-0.19**
-0.09**
0.05
Flourishing
-0.02
Satisfaction with Life
0.08
0.10*
-0.05
Adult Hope
0.01
0.07
-0.08
Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.01
*SAT scores are pre-2016 changes in scoring format, includes ACT crosswalked scores

15. GPA Correlations Scale GPA range: 0.0 - 1.9 2.0 - 3.4 3.5 & above
Resilience
-0.02
0.06
0.08
Growth Mindset
0.04
0.08*
Grit
0.01
Life Orientation
-0.11
-0.002
-0.04
Flourishing
0.03
0.17*
Satisfaction with Life
0.13
Adult Hope
0.21
0.11
0.21*
Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.01

16. Discussion Findings as compared to the literature Limitations
Implications of Findings
Interventions identified in the literature

17. Future Research & Programmatic Impact
Pilot Extension
Future Research Plan
Programmatic Impact

18. Questions
Contact Information:
Eric Fotheringham:
Samantha McAuliffe-Raynor: