Velikih pet kao prediktori uspjeha u studiranju psihologije na Univerzitetu u Banjoj Luci
Big Five as predictors of success in the studying of psychology at the University of Banja Luka

Summary/Abstract: Several recent meta-analyses demonstrated that academic performance among university students can be predicted by the Big Five personality traits, and particularly by Conscientiousness. The aim of our study was to examine the extent to which the Big Five predicts academic success in undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Banja Luka. The total sample consisted of 117 students (92% female) coming from four different cohorts who completed their studies before the end of 2014. The Big Five traits were assessed with the self-report BFI (Big Five Inventory; John & Srivastava, 1999) which was administered during the first and second years of the study. In addition, for 55 participants we collected BFI other ratings whereby targets’ personalities were assessed by close friends. We used the final average grade after completion of the three-year bachelor’s program as the criterion of academic success. Surprisingly, Openness to Experience was the only trait that significantly predicted average grade, regardless of the assessment method (self-reports: r = .33, p < .001; friend ratings: r = .30, p < .05). The results of a hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the effect of Openness to Experience stayed stable even when controlled for high school GPA and intelligence assessed at the entrance exams. We compare our results to empirical findings obtained in prior research and suggest reasons that Conscientiousness was not found to be a significant predictor.

• Details
• Contents