Noncognitive Variables in College Admissions

Abstract

The Non-Cognitive Questionnaire (NCQ) is a 23-item measure assessing eight noncognitive variables that are thought to predict the performance and retention of students in college. The NCQ is widely used in research and practice. This study is a meta-analytic review of the validity of scores on the NCQ across 47 independent samples for predicting academic outcomes ( N = 9,321). Across all analyses, none of the scales of the NCQ are adequate predictors of GPA or persistence in college. Based on their evaluation of the NCQ, the authors recommend against its use for research or practice.