Title | Measurement Matters: Assessing Personal Qualities Other Than Cognitive Ability for Educational Purposes. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Duckworth, AL, Yeager, DScott |
Journal | Educ Res |
Volume | 44 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 237-251 |
Date Published | 2015 May |
ISSN | 0013-189X |
Abstract | There has been perennial interest in personal qualities other than cognitive ability that determine success, including self-control, grit, growth mindset, and many others. Attempts to measure such qualities for the purposes of educational policy and practice, however, are more recent. In this article, we identify serious challenges to doing so. We first address confusion over terminology, including the descriptor "non-cognitive." We conclude that debate over the optimal name for this broad category of personal qualities obscures substantial agreement about the specific attributes worth measuring. Next, we discuss advantages and limitations of different measures. In particular, we compare self-report questionnaires, teacher-report questionnaires, and performance tasks, using self-control as an illustrative case study to make the general point that each approach is imperfect in its own way. Finally, we discuss how each measure's imperfections can affect its suitability for program evaluation, accountability, individual diagnosis, and practice improvement. For example, we do not believe any available measure is suitable for between-school accountability judgments. In addition to urging caution among policymakers and practitioners, we highlight medium-term innovations that may make measures of these personal qualities more suitable for educational purposes. |
DOI | 10.3102/0013189X15584327 |
Alternate Journal | Educ Res |
PubMed ID | 27134288 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4849415 |
Grant List | K01 AG033182 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 AG048081 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 HD042849 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States |
- Log in or register to post comments
- Google Scholar
- PubMed
- DOI