Change of Academic Major: The Influence of Broad and Narrow Personality Traits
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| Title: | Change of Academic Major: The Influence of Broad and Narrow Personality Traits |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Foster, N. A. |
| Source: | College Student Journal. Fall 2017 51(3):363-379. |
| Availability: | Project Innovation, Inc. P.O. Box 8508 Spring Hill Station, Mobile, AL 36689-0508. Tel: 251-343-1878; Fax: 251-343-1878; Web site: http://www.projectinnovation.biz/csj.html |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 17 |
| Publication Date: | 2017 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education |
| Descriptors: | Undergraduate Students, Personality Traits, Majors (Students), Questionnaires, Online Surveys, Instructional Program Divisions, Hypothesis Testing, Correlation, Regression (Statistics) |
| ISSN: | 0146-3934 |
| Abstract: | The relationship between academic major change and ten personality traits (the Big Five and five narrow traits), was investigated in a sample of 437 college undergraduates. Contrary to expectations, Career Decidedness and Optimism were positively related to academic major change, regardless of class ranking. When parsing data by college year, additional relationships emerged. Extraversion and Sense of Identity were positively related to academic major change among sophomores and seniors. Work Drive was negatively associated with academic major change among juniors and sophomores. Openness was both positively (sophomores) and negatively (juniors) related to major change. Emotional Stability was positively associated with students changing major at least one time, as were the traits of Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness, but only for some grades. For students who changed majors two or more times; both Self-Directed Learning and Work Drive significantly and positively correlated with the dependent variable. Both Career Decidedness and Optimism increased the odds of being a major changer in a logistic regression analysis. Implications for career planning and advising are discussed, along with future research recommendations |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 62 |
| Entry Date: | 2017 |
| Access URL: | https://www.projectinnovation.com/college-student-journal.html |
| Accession Number: | EJ1152778 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The relationship between academic major change and ten personality traits (the Big Five and five narrow traits), was investigated in a sample of 437 college undergraduates. Contrary to expectations, Career Decidedness and Optimism were positively related to academic major change, regardless of class ranking. When parsing data by college year, additional relationships emerged. Extraversion and Sense of Identity were positively related to academic major change among sophomores and seniors. Work Drive was negatively associated with academic major change among juniors and sophomores. Openness was both positively (sophomores) and negatively (juniors) related to major change. Emotional Stability was positively associated with students changing major at least one time, as were the traits of Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Agreeableness, but only for some grades. For students who changed majors two or more times; both Self-Directed Learning and Work Drive significantly and positively correlated with the dependent variable. Both Career Decidedness and Optimism increased the odds of being a major changer in a logistic regression analysis. Implications for career planning and advising are discussed, along with future research recommendations |
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| ISSN: | 0146-3934 |
