The criterion-related validity of personality measures for predicting GPA: A meta-analytic validity competition.

Abstract

Interest in the role of personality traits in predicting academic performance outcomes has steadily increased over the last several decades, enough to produce a number of meta-analyses that summarize this research (e.g., Poropat, 2009; Richardson, Abraham, & Bond, 2012). These previous meta-analyses combine a variety of alternative personality measures under the assumption that they all reflect the same personality traits and thus predict outcomes similarly. The current meta-analysis tests this assumption by comparing different personality measures when predicting postsecondary grade point average (GPA). The operational validities (r+) of 5 frequently used measures of the Big Five personality traits were compared: the NEO Personality Inventory--Revised (NEO-PI-R; Costa & McCrae, 1992), the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1992), the Big Five Inventory (BFI; e.g., Benet-Martínez & John, 1998), Goldberg's (1992) unipolar Big Five Factor Markers (Markers), and the Big Five International Personality Item Pool (IPIP; Goldberg, 1999). A systematic review of the psychological literature from 1992 to 2012 was conducted, identifying 51 studies containing 274 correlations. Conscientiousness demonstrated the strongest criterion-related validity for predicting GPA (r+ = .23), consistent with previous meta-analyses; in addition, this overall validity was found to be robust across measures (r(BFI)(+) = .24, r(IPIP)(+) = .21, r(Markers)(+) = .15, r(NEO-FFI)(+) = .24, r(NEO-PI-R)(+) = .26). Although the criterion-related validities for Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience (Intellect) differed by measure, they were generally low (r+s < .10). Practical implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed.

Interplays of psychometric abilities on learning gross anatomy

“…Higher levels of conscientiousness have been found to consistently predict better job performance and academic achievement (Barrick & Mount, 1991;Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 2003;Lievens et al, 2002;McAbee & Oswald, 2013;O'Connor & Paunonen, 2007;Poropat, 2009;Richardson et al, 2012). Conscientiousness has also been highlighted as an important predictor of performance in medical education (Doherty & Nugent, 2011).…”

Demographic and psychological predictors of grade point average (GPA) in North-Norway: a particular analysis of cognitive/school-related and literacy problems

“…Among the Big Five personality traits, conscientiousness is a notable predictor of GPA (McAbee & Oswald, 2013), possibly mediated by a well-organized, careful and self-disciplined style (McCrae & Costa, 1987). The interest in the Big Five model has however overshadowed the exploration of other personality models that may be more suitable for use among adolescents.…”

Refining the Openness–Performance Relationship: Construct Specificity, Contextualization, Social Skill, and the Combination of Trait Self- and Other-Ratings

“…For example, among outcomes examined in their meta-analysis, Barrick et al (2001) found openness to have its strongest relationship with training performance (r D .14). Also, openness consistently has been related to investigative interests , and numerous studies have associated openness with academic performance (e.g., Connelly & Ones, 2010;Furnham, Rinaldelli-Tabaton, & Chamorro-Premuzic, 2011;McAbee & Oswald, 2013;O'Connor & Paunonen, 2007;Poropat, 2009;Richardson, Abraham, & Bond, 2012). However, in many of these studies and across measures, the effect sizes of these relationships have been small.…”