October 23, 2004 WIP: Using the Kolbe Conative Index ™ for Improving Retention of Computer Science Students Robert Lingard Elizabeth Berry Brenda Timmerman California State University, Northridge

October 23, 2004 Overview The Retention Problem What Does the Kolbe Conative Index ™ Measure? Results From Previous Studies With Upper Division Students? Current Studies With Freshmen? Some Observations Conclusions and Recommendations

October 23, 2004 The Retention Problem At CSUN fewer than 20% of students who decide to major in Computer Science as freshmen complete the program. Many universities report that the graduation rate in Computer Science is the lowest, or near the lowest, of all majors. Improving retention requires understanding the reasons for the high drop out rates.

October 23, 2004 The Kolbe Concept ® What It Is... – It identifies the instincts that drive ones NATURAL behaviors – it describes “MO” (Modus Operandi) – it focuses on strengths -- how to help people be more productive and effective – it is universal – it is equal (unbiased)

October 23, 2004 The Kolbe Concept ® What It Is Not... – about how smart someone is – about social style – about personality – about right or wrong – there is no good or bad

October 23, 2004 The Kolbe Instinctive Talents Fact Finder Follow Thru Quick Start Implementor

October 23, 2004 The “Fact Finder” Probes Asks Questions Weighs Pros and Cons Collects Data and Establishes Priorities before Making a Decision

October 23, 2004 The “Follow Thru” Individual Seeks Structure Makes Schedules Needs a Sense of Order and Plans Ahead

October 23, 2004 The “Quick Start” Innovates Takes Risks Improvises Plays Hunches When Asked to Give a Presentation, Comfortably Ad Libs

October 23, 2004 The “Implementor” Uses Space and Materials Builds and Constructs Uses Hands-on Equipment with Ease Creates Handcrafted Models Insists on Quality Materials

October 23, 2004 Sample “Kolbe” Results

October 23, 2004 Kolbe and Teamwork The Kolbe index is used by many companies to form effective teams by ensuring teams contain a balance of Kolbe talents. Previous results at CSUN have shown a statistically significant correlation between team synergy as measure by Kolbe and performance on software engineering projects. However, synergistic student teams are hard to create due to a lack of certain Kolbe talents.

October 23, 2004 Team Synergy as Defined by Kolbe

October 23, 2004 Kolbe Profile of Upper Division Computer Science Students

October 23, 2004 Kolbe Profile of Marketing Managers

October 23, 2004 Kolbe Profile Comparisons CS Students vs. Marketing Managers

October 23, 2004 Kolbe Profile Comparisons Upper Division vs. Freshmen

October 23, 2004 Observations There are statistically significant difference between freshmen and upper division computer science majors. Freshmen, as a group, have more “implementor” and less “fact finder” tendencies. The profiles of upper division students match the profiles of the instructors.

October 23, 2004 Conclusions It looks like the students leaving the program are the “implementors”. The students who succeed in the program seem to be those whose Kolbe profiles are most like those of the instructors. There might be benefits to the program, and to the students, if ways could be found to retain some of these students

October 23, 2004 Recommendations for Future Research Using the Kolbe index to measure incoming freshmen should be continued in order to accumulate a larger sample. Attempts should be made to follow these students throughout their academic careers to identify the Kolbe scores of the students actually dropping out of the program. Learning approaches used should be studied to see whether they could be augmented to benefit the “implementors”.