In addition to prior academic performance and scores on standardized admission tests, predictors of academic performance include study habits, study skills, study attitudes, and study motivation. This is according to a recent meta-analysis, or statistical combination of many past studies. by psychologists Marcus Crede and Nathan Kuncel.
Study habits include the ability to manage time, and study attitudes refer to the use of sound study routines. Interest in academics falls under the umbrella term of study attitudes, and study motivation is both the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to engage in studying instead of some other activity. The analysis examined over 70,000 college students in 10 different facets of their study skills.
Given the large amount of time and money people spend on education, it may be prudent to protect this investment by utilizing strategies and techniques that have been shown to predict academic achievement.
Credé, M., & Kuncel, N. R. (2008). Study habits, skills, and attitudes: The third pillar supporting collegiate academic performance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(6), 425–453.
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