Role of Personality Type on Minority Attrition at the US Naval Academy

The attrition rate at the Naval Academy is higher for minority vs. not minority students. This thesis examines the predictors of minority attrition at the Naval Academy. Three categories of predictor variables were examined: gender, academic measures, and MBTI personality type. Specifically, the study focuses on the theories of college student attrition based on data from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as traditional civilian universities. Data obtained from the Naval Academy's Institutional Research were analyzed. Results of the quantitative analysis show that the standardized test used in the admissions process (SAT) held little predictive value when examining minority attrition. A major finding drawn from Chi Square analysis of the Myers- Briggs Personality Type Indicator revealed that several active personality types did better in terms of persistence at the Naval Academy. Recommendations addressed several areas of possible improvement and proposed further research regarding minority attrition.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Role of Personality Type on Minority Attrition at the US Naval Academy', published 2002 under ISBN 9781423509493 and ISBN 1423509498.