Grades and intelligence correlation
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Correlation Between Grades and Intelligence: A Comprehensive Analysis
Intelligence as a Predictor of Scholastic Achievement
Meta-Analysis of Intelligence and School Grades
Intelligence is widely recognized as a significant predictor of academic success. A comprehensive meta-analysis involving 240 independent samples and over 105,000 participants found a strong population correlation (ρ = .54) between standardized intelligence tests and school grades. This relationship varied across different school subjects, grade levels, and types of intelligence tests used, but gender did not affect the correlation's magnitude.
Longitudinal Studies on Intelligence and Educational Achievement
A longitudinal study of over 70,000 English children revealed a high correlation (0.81) between general intelligence at age 11 and educational achievement at age 16. Intelligence significantly contributed to success across 25 academic subjects, with the highest variance in Mathematics (58.6%) and the lowest in Art and Design (18.1%). This study underscores the critical role of intelligence in predicting academic performance across a wide range of subjects.
Middle School Academic Performance and Intelligence
Research on Portuguese middle school students demonstrated that prior academic performance mediates the relationship between intelligence and future academic achievement. Intelligence, when combined with prior academic performance, significantly enhances the predictive validity for future grades. This finding highlights the dynamic interplay between intelligence and academic history in shaping educational outcomes.
The Role of Personality and Other Factors
Personality Traits and Academic Achievement
Personality traits, alongside intelligence, play a crucial role in academic performance. Studies have shown that traits such as Openness, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness positively correlate with GPA, while Neuroticism has a negative correlation. Despite these influences, intelligence remains the strongest predictor of GPA across all grades. This suggests that while personality traits contribute to academic success, intelligence is the primary driver.
Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance
Emotional intelligence (EI) also contributes to academic performance, albeit to a lesser extent than general intelligence. A meta-analysis found that EI, particularly ability EI, explains additional variance in academic performance beyond that accounted for by intelligence and personality traits. This indicates that emotional skills, such as managing academic emotions and building social relationships, can enhance academic outcomes.
Comparative Predictive Power of Intelligence and Motivation
Intelligence vs. Motivation
A meta-analysis comparing the predictive power of intelligence and motivation for school achievement found that intelligence (r = 0.44) has a stronger correlation with academic performance than motivation (r = 0.27). However, both factors contribute uniquely and substantially to predicting school achievement, with intelligence explaining a larger share of the variance. This highlights the importance of both cognitive and motivational factors in academic success.
Conclusion
The correlation between grades and intelligence is well-established, with intelligence being a robust predictor of academic performance across various subjects and educational levels. While personality traits and emotional intelligence also play significant roles, intelligence remains the most influential factor. Understanding the interplay between these elements can help educators and policymakers design more effective educational strategies to enhance student achievement.
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