Noncognitive Assessment

Noncognitive assessments are used to assess skills such as teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, creativity, and motivation. These measures are of interest to higher education as a way to (a) expand the skill set assessed for admissions decision-making and of student learning outcomes and (b) assess candidates’ personalities to augment the cognitive indicators typically used for admissions decisions and inform selection and placement of individuals in programs of study. Noncognitive measures include letters of recommendation, situational judgment tests, case-based problem-solving tests, and scenario-based tasks.

Early forms of noncognitive measures include letters of recommendation; their use dates back to at least the 18th century as individuals about to relocate would obtain letters from those with higher status who could vouch for the individual’s character and skills. The types of ...