Role of the Big Five personality traits in predicting college students' academic motivation and achievement

College students (308 undergraduates) completed the Five Factor Inventory and the Academic Motivations Scale, and reported their college grade point average (GPA). A correlation analysis revealed an interesting pattern of significant relationships. Further, regression analyses indicated that conscie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Learning and individual differences 2009-01, Vol.19 (1), p.47-52
Main Authors: Komarraju, Meera, Karau, Steven J., Schmeck, Ronald R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic
Academic Motivation Scale
Achievement
Big Five
College Students
Correlation
Grade Point Average
Incentives
Motivation
NEO Five Factor Inventory
Personality
Personality Traits
Prediction
Predictor Variables
Student Motivation
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Summary:College students (308 undergraduates) completed the Five Factor Inventory and the Academic Motivations Scale, and reported their college grade point average (GPA). A correlation analysis revealed an interesting pattern of significant relationships. Further, regression analyses indicated that conscientiousness and openness explained 17% of the variance in intrinsic motivation; conscientiousness and extraversion explained 13% of the variance in extrinsic motivation; and conscientiousness and agreeableness explained 11% of the variance in amotivation. Further, four personality traits (conscientiousness, openness, neuroticism, and agreeableness) explained 14% of the variance in GPA; and intrinsic motivation to accomplish things explained 5% of the variance in GPA. Finally, conscientiousness emerged as a partial mediator of the relationship between intrinsic motivation to accomplish and GPA. These results are interpreted within the context of what educators could do to encourage and nurture student motivation and achievement.
ISSN:1041-6080
1873-3425
DOI:10.1016/j.lindif.2008.07.001