Practically a Genius: Is Practical Intelligence a Good Predictor of Student Success in College?

Selena Velasquez, Katie Grobman

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentationpeer-review

Abstract

Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence includes analytical, creative, and practical intelligence. College admissions and predicting a student’s success in college is typically based on analytical intelligence, including cognitive abilities assessed by GPA and test scores. While analytical intelligence may be a good indicator of college success, we hypothesize that creative and practical intelligence, including non-cognitive abilities and tacit knowledge, can also serve as good indicators of success. The purpose of this longitudinal study is to predict student success in college based on creative and practical intelligence. Through a series of online questions and in-person activities, we measured 49 first-year Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students and 17 first-year psychology students on the Big Five Personality traits, creativity, tacit knowledge, and grit. By December, we will have one semester’s grades, so we will run correlations between students’ grades and the results from our tasks. As well, when students leave the university, we will then conduct follow up interviews with them about the reason they are leaving (e.g., graduation or transferring) and their experiences at CSU Monterey Bay. Based on the current literature, we predict that creativity, grit, and tacit knowledge will all have positive correlations with a student’s performance in college and thus serve as additional indicators of college success. Other researchers will benefit from the gaps of information we can fill regarding Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence. Our study will also provide more insight into college support programs and the impact they have on students. Higher education can be daunting and difficult for students, particularly first-generation college students. This research aims to give them and other students the benefit of learning that cognitive abilities and scores are only a part of what makes students successful in college. Learning that there is a wide variety of abilities and characteristics that make each of us have the potential of success will give new optimism to those who may doubt their capabilities.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Apr 2019
EventAnnual Convention of the Western Psychological Association - Sacramento, United States
Duration: Apr 25 2019 → …

Conference

ConferenceAnnual Convention of the Western Psychological Association
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySacramento
Period4/25/19 → …

Keywords

  • intelligence
  • practical intelligence
  • sternberg
  • tacit knowledge
  • noncognitive abilities

Disciplines

  • Higher Education
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology

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