The relationship between Personality Traits, Learning Styles and Academic Performance of E-Learners

Abstract

The rapid growth of e-learning has greatly influenced the educational system across the globe. Personality traits and learning styles are both likely to play considerable roles in influencing academic achievement of e-learners. Based on this foundation, a study was designed that attempts to establish the missing links between personality traits, learning styles, and academic performance of students enrolled in various e-learning courses. University students (N=144) completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Index of Learning Style (ILS) and reported their grade point average (GPA). One of the Big Five traits i.e. extraversion was positively related with all four learning styles whereas neuroticism was negatively related with all four learning styles. It has also been revealed that GPA was positively correlated with three personality traits and was negatively correlated with neuroticism. Similarly GPA was positively correlated with three learning styles. Finally, there were no significant differences in learning styles and personality traits of e-learners in terms of gender. Implications of these results are expected to help academics, managers, and policy makers for implementation of future e-learning strategies in Pakistan.