Campus Units
Psychology
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Journal or Book Title
Learning and Individual Differences
Volume
77
First Page
101815
DOI
10.1016/j.lindif.2019.101815
Abstract
Claiming that high levels of an independent variable represent a necessary-but-not-sufficient condition for an outcome suggests that the outcome is only possible – but not guaranteed – with high levels of that variable. Necessary condition analysis (NCA) allows researchers to determine if an observed relation between an independent variable and a dependent variable is consistent with such a necessary-but-not-sufficient relation. Using both archival and primary data, we apply Dul's (2016) necessary condition analysis techniques to common correlates of academic success in college. We find data patterns that are consistent with necessary-but-not-sufficient conditions for academic success for a variety of variables including class attendance, grit-perseverance, growth mindset, prior achievement, and admissions test scores. Our findings imply that some individual characteristics and behaviors may constrain the level of grades possible in college and that researchers may benefit from considering necessity models of academic performance. We discuss further applications of necessary condition analysis in educational research as a supplement to traditional data analysis.
Copyright Owner
Elsevier
Copyright Date
2020
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Tynan, Michael C.; Crede, Marcus; and Harms, Peter D., "Are individual characteristics and behaviors necessary-but-not-sufficient conditions for academic success?: A demonstration of Dul's (2016) necessary condition analysis" (2020). Psychology Publications. 115.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/psychology_pubs/115
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Cognition and Perception Commons, Comparative Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons
Comments
This accepted article is published as Tynan, M.C., Crede, M., Harms, P.D., Are individual characteristics and behaviors necessary-but-not-sufficient conditions for academic success?: A demonstration of Dul's (2016) necessary condition analysis. Learning and Individual Differences. 77(2020); 101815. DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2019.101815. Posted with permission.