Fluid reasoning, not trait self-control, predicts low-stakes standardized mathematics and physics test scores¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r3 · q3
Currency · newest study 2020 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Fluid reasoning significantly predicts standardized mathematics (β = 0.52) and physics (β = 0.58) scores, whereas trait self-control does not (math β = −0.01, p = 0.710; physics β = −0.02, p = 0.187). → Schmidt FTC 2020

Evidence¶

Schmidt FTC 2020¶

Schmidt FTC, Lindner C, Etzel JM and Retelsdorf J (2020) Self-Control Outdoes Fluid Reasoning in Explaining Vocational and Academic Performance—But Does It? Front. Psychol. 11:757. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00757

q3 · i? · associational · r3

Multivariate regression on N = 3,146 trainees; Table 2 prints fluid reasoning slopes of 0.52 (math) and 0.58 (physics), both p = 0.000, versus non-significant TSC slopes, confirming "the coefficients for fluid reasoning were overall larger than those for trait self-control".

"In line with previous research, fluid reasoning proved to be relatively more important for achievement in standardized tests; the coefficients for fluid reasoning were overall larger than those for trait self-control."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• No significant trait self-control × fluid reasoning interaction effects on grades or standardized test scores — related
• Post hoc analysis: trait self-control relates to grades positively only for trainees above very low fluid reasoning levels — related
• Trait self-control correlates with grades but not with standardized test scores at the bivariate level — related
• Fluid reasoning and self-control jointly explain far more variance in standardized test scores than in grades — related
• Post hoc findings question whether all students benefit equally from efforts to foster trait self-control — related
• Mathematics achievement correlates more strongly with learners' knowledge, skills and cognitive abilities than with their personality traits, goals or emotions — a broader claim this one bears on
• Trait self-control is significantly associated with major GPA beyond fluid reasoning and conscientiousness in vocational trainees — related
• Trait self-control and conscientiousness overlap substantially, and conscientiousness slightly outperforms self-control for grades — related
• Conscientiousness correlates more strongly with grades than with standardized test scores, across both language and STEM domains — related