THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Big Five personality traits on the academic performance of university students in terms of their CGPA by using 20 item short Mini-IPIP Five-Factor personality test developed by Donnellan, Oswald, Baird, and Lucas (2006). The purpose of using this short measures test is to come up with a generalized and effective quick personality test for predicting academic performance (in terms of CGPA) in students. The study was conducted on undergraduate college students at Forman Christian College, Lahore (N = 406). The results affirm the predictive validity of the Big Five personality traits. Openness (0.169) was most positively related to academic performance followed by agreeableness (0.148) and conscientiousness (0.128). However, neuroticism (.054) and extraversion (.061) were found to have no significant correlation with academic performance. Implications of these results are discussed in context of career and academic counseling and university administration.