The Impact of Personality Dimensions on Study Behaviour and Study Attitudes of Online Students

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Big Five personality dimensions on study attitudes and study behaviour of online students. Based on theoretical background, we proposed and tested the model, which assumes significant direct impact of personality dimensions on study attitudes and study behaviour and a bi-directional relationship between study attitudes and study behaviour. Partial analyses of the interrelationships proposed in the model showed that personality dimensions exert a more powerful direct impact on study behaviour than on study attitudes, with conscientiousness being the strongest predictor of study behaviour. When personality dimensions are controlled, there is a significant moderate interrelationship between study behaviour and study attitudes. This indicates that personality dimensions may influence study attitudes indirectly via study behaviour. The results of structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed insufficient empirical evidence to support the model as a whole, which questions the validity of the proposed model.

Keywords

• personality dimensions
• study attitudes