Exploring personality traits as predictors of English achievement and global competence among Chinese university students: English learning motivation as the moderator

This study aimed to delve deeper into the relationship between personality traits and academic performance by focusing on two specific aspects that can be critically important in the globalized world: global competence and achievement in learning English as a second language. We recruited 555 Chinese university students who completed a web-based survey. Results revealed that the Big Five Personality (conscientiousness, neuroticism, extraversion, openness, and agreeableness) functioned differently in predicting the outcome variables. Conscientiousness and extraversion positively predicted English achievement. Extraversion and openness positively predicted all three dimensions of global competence (global attitudes, skills, and knowledge). Agreeableness positively predicted global attitudes. Conscientiousness positively predicted global knowledge but negatively predicted global attitudes, while neuroticism negatively predicted global skills and attitudes. Furthermore, English learning motivation was found to moderate the relationships of extraversion to English achievement and global knowledge. Specifically, the two positive relationships were stronger at high than at low levels of motivation.
Source: Learning and Individual Differences - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research