Analysis of Engineering and Engineering Technology Student Strength Patterns Using StrengthsFinder

摘要

Strengths as measured by Gallup’s Clifton StrengthsFinder test have been shown to play a role in workplace success around the world in industry and academia. This research investigated the role Clifton StrengthsFinder strengths play in the classroom success of engineering and engineering technology students in an engineering department within a large, Midwestern, research-intensive, land-grant university. The department teaches students about strengths as part of a required sophomore-level course to help them better understand how to utilize their unique talents to be successful, but limited analysis has occurred on the data. The purpose of this research was to analyze the student strengths data to identify patterns of strengths among the students. The department collected three years of student strengths data that was analyzed to identify differences between gender and type of major in the department. Previous research suggests that there should be no patterns of strengths or best set of strengths for specific majors or on the basis of gender. This research has identified that there are multiple common strengths among students when comparing gender and type of major. Results of this research provide a characterization of student strengths to assist in curriculum development, advising, and engagement and retention applications.