Personality Traits of Academic Librarians and Their Knowledge Acquisition and Application Behavior

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the Big Five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness) on knowledge acquisition and application by Pakistani university librarians. To increase their impact in academic institutions, it is imperative to examine how people acquire and apply knowledge within the field of librarianship. This study employed a quantitative research approach based on the survey research method. The Big Five personality inventory designed by John and Srivastava was adopted, however, measurement items related to knowledge acquisition and application behavior were developed with the help of the existing literature. The study population comprised academic librarians working in the university libraries of Pakistan, with a census sampling method used to collect data and 357 completed questionnaires received. The results indicated that extraversion, agreeableness, and openness to experience positively affect the university librarian’s knowledge acquisition, while neuroticism has a negative effect. The findings also revealed that extraversion and openness to experience positively affects academic librarians’ knowledge application behavior while neuroticism has a negative effective, however, conscientiousness and agreeableness personality traits were found to be insignificant predictors of the same. This study highlights the significant personality features contributing to knowledge acquisition and application behavior in academic libraries from a developing country’s perspective.

Keywords

• big five personality traits
• knowledge acquisition
• knowledge application
• academic librarians
• pakistan