The Development of Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills in Students in the Autonomous Province of Trento

The analysis of what human capital (HC) is has a long history and culminates in the acknowledgment that HC its growth are very important for both cognitive education (cognitive skills (CSs)) personal life (noncognitive (NCSs)) CSs NCSs have strong reciprocal relationship, as studies by Heckman demonstrated. present contribution (following Heckman’s approach) analyzed relationship between sample middle school students Autonomous Province Trento. second goal research was to verify whether educational teaching behaviors improved students’ personalities. Aside from use administrative data (INVALSI data, 2015 2018), one survey administered 2018–2019 schooling year CSs. Moreover, we sought determine behavior personalities (1522 25 schools) programs could enhance NCSs. Methodological tools involved generalized least squares approach answer first question difference-in-differences model second. main results showed levels affected ability learn improve CSs; challenging approach, especially if accompanied improving quality, had positive results. Finally, suggested wider, national-based following primary secondary would allow greater understanding dynamics