The Relation of Personality, Gender, and Achievement in Science Classes

• In Event: 61.016 - Equity and Diversity in Science Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The personality facets of 1911 students in a college science class taken primarily by future engineers and physical scientists were measured with the Big Five Inventory (BFI). The relation of personality to four measures of academic achievement were compared: high school GPA (HSGPA), ACT/SAT mathematics score, physics test average, and physics course grade. The Conscientiousness facet was the strongest predictor of achievement for HSGPA, test average, and grade, but not for ACT/SAT score. Personality explained more variance in college achievement measures than in high school measures. The personality facets explained 2% additional variance in test average over HSGPA and ACT/SAT and 3% in course grade for men; 5% additional variance in test average and 7% in course grade for women.

Authors

• John C Stewart, West Virginia University

• Dona Hewagallage, West Virginia University