An Investigation of the Big Five and Narrow Personality Traits in Relation to Academic Performance

An Investigation of the Big Five and Narrow Personality Traits in Relation to Academic Performance

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Published: 2005

Total Pages: 110

ISBN-13:

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The present study investigated the relationship between the Big Five personality traits (agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extroversion, and openness), as well as the relationship of more narrow personality traits, with academic performance. The issue of narrow traits adding incremental validity tothe Big Five in predicting academic performance was investigated, using archival data collected from 552 university students. Results from a correlation analysis indicated that openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and emotional stability were all significantly related to GPA (college grade-point average), while extroversion was not related. Due to a significant gender difference in college GPA, gender interaction terms with each of the Big Five factors were employed for regression analyses. The regression analyses indicated that GPA was related to openness, emotional stability, and agreeableness Bivariate correlation analyses showed that, of the five narrow traits, aggression, self-directed learning, optimism, and work drive were related to GPA. Regression analysis indicated that aggression, self-directed learning, tough-mindedness, and work drive accounted for partial effects in GPA. Significant interactions were noted between gender and optimism and gender and self-directed learning. Finally, a sequential multiple regression revealed that the following narrow traits added incremental validity to the Big Five in explaining variance in college GPA: conscientiousness from the Big Five, and the narrow traits of self-directed learning, aggression, tough-mindedness, and work drive. Significant interactions were noted between gender and optimism and gender and self-directed learning. These findings were interpreted as supporting the usefulness of both broad and narrow personality traits to predict real-world outcomes. Furthermore, these findings illuminate the relationship between personality and academic performance.


Predicting Academic Success

Predicting Academic Success

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Published: 2003

Total Pages:

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Personality and cognitive variables were examined to determine relative validity in predicting academic performance. This study investigated whether broad personality variables (in this case, the Big Five: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Openness to Experience) predicted academic success better than narrow personality variables (the construct Work Drive); it also explored the utility of operationalizing academic performance via cumulative grade point average (GPA) versus a single course grade. The highest significant correlates of GPA and course grade were Work Drive (r=.42, p


A Comparison of Big Five and Narrow Personality Traits in Relation to Academic Performance

A Comparison of Big Five and Narrow Personality Traits in Relation to Academic Performance

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Published: 2008

Total Pages: 89

ISBN-13:

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The present study investigated the relationship between the Big Five personality traits (Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Extraversion, and Openness), as well as the relationship of more narrow personality traits, with academic performance. The issue of whether personality measures that have been contextualized to either school or work better predict academic performance than generalized measures is also addressed through the use of multiple personality instruments. Results from a correlation analysis indicated that Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Emotional Stability were all significantly positively related to academic performance, in this case, college course grade, while Extraversion was significantly negatively related. The same correlation analysis showed that for Openness and Agreeableness, the measure contextualized to academics predicted better than the generalized measures which in turn better predicted academic performance than the work-related measure. Emotional Stability, conversely, was best predicted by the work-related measure, in contrast to what was predicted. A stepwise regression was used to find what added significant variance for both Big Five and narrow traits for each measure used in this study. The findings of this study support the usefulness of both broad and narrow personality traits in predicting real-world outcomes. The relationships between general and contextualized measures and their predictions of academic performance are also shown. Furthermore, the relationship between academic performance and personality is demonstrated within this study.


The Relationship Between Broad and Narrow Personality Traits and Change of Academic Major

The Relationship Between Broad and Narrow Personality Traits and Change of Academic Major

Author: Nancy A. Foster

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13:

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality traits and academic major change in two samples of college undergraduates. Utilizing a field study design, a total number of 859 undergraduates completed an online inventory that included the "Big Five" and other -related, narrow personality traits, as well as academic major change and various demographic variables. A number of expected and unexpected findings emerged. As hypothesized, the traits of Sense of Identity and Extraversion were significantly and negatively related to decisions to change major, but only for certain grade levels. Contrary to expectations, Career Decidedness and Optimism were significantly and positively related to academic major change across groups, regardless of class ranking. When parsing the data by college year, additional and significant relationships appeared. Extraversion and Sense of Identity were positively related to academic major change among freshmen, sophomores and seniors, which was a significant and unexpected finding. Conscientiousness, and Emotional Stability were unrelated to academic major change overall, but were significantly and positively related to students changing major at least one time. Among non-directional hypotheses, Work Drive was negatively associated with academic major change across all groups, as well as among juniors and sophomores. Openness was both positively (sophomores) and negatively (juniors) related to major change. A final analysis that looked at students who changed majors two or more times, both Self-directed Learning and Work Drive significantly and positively correlated with the dependent variable. Both Career Decidedness and Optimism increased the odds of being a major changer in a logistic regression analysis of a residence hall sample. Implications for career planning and advising are discussed, along with future research recommendations.


Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology

Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology

Author: Paul H. Blaney

Publisher: Oxford Textbooks in Clinical P

Published: 2014-09-19

Total Pages: 873

ISBN-13: 0199811776

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While most abnormal psychology texts seem to aim solely for breadth, the acclaimed Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology aims for depth, with a focus on adult disorders and special attention given to the personality disorders. Now in its third edition, it has established itself as an unparalleled guide for professionals and graduate students alike. Esteemed editors Paul H. Blaney, Robert F. Krueger, and the late Theodore Millon selected the most eminent researchers in abnormal psychology to cover all the major mental disorders, allowing them to discuss notable issues in the various pathologies which are their expertise. This third edition of the Oxford Textbook of Psychopathology is fully updated according to the DSM-5 and also reflects alternative, emerging perspectives in the field (e.g., the NIMH's Research Domain Criteria Initiative; RDoC). The Textbook exposes readers to exceptional scholarship, a history of psychopathology, the logic of the best approaches to current disorders, and an expert outlook on what researchers and mental health professionals will be facing in the years to come. With extensive coverage of personality disorders and issues related to classification and differential diagnosis, this volume will be exceptionally useful for all mental health workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers, and as a textbook focused on understanding psychopathology in depth, as well as a valuable guide for graduate psychology students and psychiatric residents.


Cognitive Ability, Big Five, and Narrow Personality Traits in the Prediction of Academic Performance

Cognitive Ability, Big Five, and Narrow Personality Traits in the Prediction of Academic Performance

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Published: 2004

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the degree to which the academic performance of adolescents could be predicted by cognitive ability, the Big Five personality traits, and the narrow personality traits of optimism, work drive, and aggression. The analyses were conducted using an archival sample of 542 sixth-graders and 446 ninth-graders. Results from a hierarchical regression revealed that cognitive ability produced multiple R's of (.462; R2=23.2%) and (.521, R2=27.2%) in 6th and 9th grade samples, respectively. Entry of the Big Five in both samples produced an R2 change of 7.2% for sixth grade and 4.4% for the ninth grade. The narrow traits aggression (R2 change of 2.8% and work drive (R2 change of 0.9%) predicted incrementally above cognitive ability and the Big Five in the 6th grade sample. Aggression and optimism produced R2 changes of 4.8% and 1.2%, respectively, in the 9th grade sample. A stepwise regression, which allowed entry of all of the study variables, revealed that cognitive ability, aggression, and work drive were the best overall predictors of academic performance; the Big Five trait of extraversion gained entry into the model after these three variables in the 6th grade sample. These findings further demonstrate the validity of both cognitive ability and the Big Five in academic settings; they also indicate the improvements in validity that may be obtained through the use of narrow traits. Implications and ideas for future research are also discussed.


The Oxford Handbook of the Five Factor Model

The Oxford Handbook of the Five Factor Model

Author: Thomas A. Widiger

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017-03-27

Total Pages: 609

ISBN-13: 0190679530

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The Five Factor Model, which measures individual differences on extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience, is arguably the most prominent dimensional model of general personality structure. In fact, there is now a considerable body of research supporting its construct validity and practical application in clinical, health, and organizational settings. Taking this research to the forefront, The Oxford Handbook of the Five Factor Model showcases the work of expert researchers in the field as they each offer important insight and perspective on all that is known about the Five Factor Model to date. By establishing the origins, foundation, and predominance of the Five Factor Model, this Handbook will focus on such areas as construct validity, diagnosis and assessment, personality neuroscience, and how the Five Factor Model operates in business and industry, animal personality, childhood temperament, and clinical utility.