Background: Engineering programs have high attrition rates, and once in college, students are unlikely to migrate to engineering from other majors. Factors that influence retention must be assessed. Purpose: This study investigated the relationships of aptitude and personality traits in predicting retention for persisting students, those leaving…

Although predictive accuracy (cognitive empathy) and emotional empathy may be aspects of the same general ability, few empirical studies have examined the relationships between these dimensions. The relationship between cognitive empathy and emotional empathy was investigated by correlating the Mehrabian and Epstein Emotional Empathy Scale and its…

The relative influence of cooperative-competitive social orientation on school achievement for Anglo-American and Mexican-American children was assessed. The importance of competitiveness for Anglo-American children and the moderate relationship of other personality variables to achievement in both groups is shown. (Author/CM)