Noncognitive Impact: Is There a Rationale for Assessing Postsecondary Students beyond Their Cognitive Skill Attainment?

Abstract

Noncognitive factors shape how people interact and perform in various settings and have received increased scholarly attention as academicians seek to holistically serve students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities. This literature review aims to 1) better understand the rationale of assessing students beyond their cognitive skill attainment and 2) explore research evaluating the role of noncognitive skills in students' ability to persist in their educational studies and career skills attainment. Research demonstrates that exploring social-psychological phenomena, including a sense of belonging, impostor syndrome, stereotype threat, intersectionality, and mindset, may help understand students' experiences.