WIP: Using the Kolbe Conative Index

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WIP Using the Kolbe Conative Index for
Improving Retention of Computer Science Students

• Robert Lingard
• Elizabeth Berry
• Brenda Timmerman
• California State University,
• Northridge

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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

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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.

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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)

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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

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The Kolbe Instinctive Talents

• Fact Finder
• Follow Thru
• Quick Start
• Implementor

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The Fact Finder

• Probes
• Asks Questions
• Weighs Pros and Cons
• Collects Data and Establishes Priorities before
  Making a Decision

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The Follow Thru Individual

• Seeks Structure
• Makes Schedules
• Needs a Sense of Order and Plans Ahead

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The Quick Start

• Innovates
• Takes Risks
• Improvises
• Plays Hunches
• When Asked to Give a Presentation, Comfortably Ad
  Libs

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The Implementor

• Uses Space and Materials
• Builds and Constructs
• Uses Hands-on Equipment with Ease
• Creates Handcrafted Models
• Insists on Quality Materials

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Sample Kolbe Results
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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.

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Team Synergy as Defined by Kolbe


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Kolbe Profile of Upper Division Computer Science
Students
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Kolbe Profile of Marketing Managers
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Kolbe Profile ComparisonsCS Students vs.
Marketing Managers
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Kolbe Profile ComparisonsUpper Division vs.
Freshmen
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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.

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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

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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.