A project led by Adam Green at Georgetown University’s Lab for Relational Cognition aims to leverage advanced artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to identify and assess the presence of character strengths in written language, specifically in college admissions statements and other similar forms of personal writing, and to then empirically link the identified character strengths with flourishing-related outcomes among American and Ghanaian university students. 

The project operates across three studies. Ten strengths will be explored: creativity, curiosity, persistence, kindness, citizenship, self-regulation, hope, and spirituality/purpose.

Study 1 employs a novel big data approach, utilizing a massive-scale dataset of college applicants from 24 diverse institutions. Large language models (LLMs) will be trained on existing data from personal statement essays as well as selected academic achievement and formative engagement outcomes. Models that best reflect each character strength and that most robustly relate those character strengths to achievement and formative engagement outcomes. This study will also consider whether these models can reduce known measurement biases (i.e., associated with race and socioeconomic status) that subsequently impact equity of opportunity for underrepresented populations in college admissions.

Study 2 takes a person-centered longitudinal approach, allowing the team to expand the types of personal writings and the outcomes that are investigated in relation to text-based assessments of character strengths. Additionally, Study 2 aims to assess character strengths and flourishing-related outcomes during a period of significant transition and growth for a young person: the initial years after graduation.

Recognizing that character strengths are value judgments that are culturally embedded, Study 3 will be a pilot proof of concept study into AI modeling of character strengths and outcomes that are valued in Ghana. This pilot study will be done in partnership with Ashesi University, a primarily English-language university in Accra that is also an academic partner of Arizona State University.