Personality, Intelligence, and Counterproductive Academic Behaviors: A Meta-Analysis

Counterproductive academic behaviors (CAB) are a major problem for educational institutions all over the world. For this reason, to determine the potential predictors of CAB is relevant. After defining CAB and introducing a typology of seven CABs facets (i.e., cheating, absenteeism, plagiarism, deception, breach of rules, low effort, and misuse of resources), this study reports on a comprehensive meta-analysis carried out to estimate the relationships between CAB and its facets with the Big Five personality dimensions and intelligence. Results showed that conscientiousness (K = 77, N = 31,473, rho = -.28) and agreeableness (K = 56, N = 24,436, rho = -.14) were predictors of the student's propensity to engage in CAB. Conscientiousness also predicted the 7 facets of CAB, particularly absenteeism (rho = -.30), cheating (rho = -.34), misuse of resources (rho = -.32), low effort (rho = -.29). and breach of rules (rho = -.27). Intelligence showed a negative relationship with CAB (K = 55, N = 30.052, rho = -.19). and it was the best predictor of deception (K = 18, N = 3,575 rho = -.48). The educational level, the type of cognitive tests, and the intelligence factor assessed were relevant moderators of the validity estimates. The validity of a compound of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and intelligence was 42 for predicting overall CAB. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of the findings.