Time diary and questionnaire assessment of factors associated with academic and personal success among university undergraduates.

Published in the Journal of American College Health, Vol 56(6), May-Jun 2008. pp. 706-715.

Objective and Participants: A sample of 231 students attending a private liberal arts university in central Alberta, Canada, completed a 5-day time diary and a 71-item questionnaire assessing the influence of personal, cognitive, and attitudinal factors on success.

Methods: The authors used 3 success measures: cumulative grade point average (GPA), Personal Success--each participant's rating of congruence between stated goals and progress toward those goals--and Total Success--a measure that weighted GPA and Personal Success equally.

Results: The greatest predictors of GPA were time-management skills, intelligence, time spent studying, computer ownership, less time spent in passive leisure, and a healthy diet. Predictors of Personal Success scores were clearly defined goals, overall health, personal spirituality, and time-management skills. Predictors of Total Success scores were clearly defined goals, time-management skills, less time spent in passive leisure, healthy diet, waking up early, computer ownership, and less time spent sleeping.

Conclusions: Results suggest alternatives to traditional predictors of academic success.

Authors:
George, Darren, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Canadian University College, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Dixon, Sinikka, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Canadian University College, Lacombe, AB, Canada; Stansal, Emory and Gelb, Shannon Lund, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada;
Pheri, Tabitha, Loma Linda University, CA, US