Training character: Character attributes and performance profiles among cadets at the United States military academy

ABSTRACT

This study examined several performance scores of cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA) and whether these scores formed profiles related to specific character attributes. USMA presupposes that, in order to train commissioned leaders of character, cadet performance and character-building should be closely linked. Prior research from this project provided evidence of a four-factor structure for character at USMA, and we investigated how this factor structure related to interindividual differences in cadet performance. Using cross-sectional data from 1,297 cadets, we conducted latent profile analyses to identify performance profiles associated with the character factors. Results indicated five distinctive performance profiles, uniquely related to specific character factors. We discuss implications for evaluating cadet performance and for the benefits of character-based programming in higher education contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Character
• higher education
• student performance
• military

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Templeton Religion Trust under Grant 0093.