Personality and Intelligence Interact in the Prediction of Academic Achievement

Research Questions/Hypotheses:

We expected an interaction effect between Conscientiousness and intelligence predicting academic achievement.

We investigated in an exploratory approach if interaction effects between other personality traits and intelligence can be found.

Furthermore, we investigated in an exploratory approach, if analyses at the facet level reveal more differentiated results than do analyses at the domain level.

Research Design:

Fully Standardized Survey Instrument (provides question formulation and answer options); single measurement

Measurement Instruments/Apparatus:

Short description of the employed tests:
Study 1: Borkenau, P. & Ostendorf, F. (1993). NEO-Fünf-Faktoren-Inventar nach Costa und McCrae.

• assessment of Big Five with 12 items (statements) per domain
• response format: 0 (strong rejection ), 1 (rejection), 2 (neutral), 3 (approval), 4 (strong approval)
• the research data file srra08pe02_fd1.txt contains the sum scores per domain

Study 1 and 2: Liepmann, D., Beauducel, A., Brocke, B. & Amthauer, R. (2007). Intelligenz-Struktur-Test 2000 R (erweiterte Aufl.).

• assessment of verbal, numerical and figural reasoning (overall score for reasoning)
• total of 9 task groups (3 per ability)
• the research data files srra08pe02_fd1.txt and srra08pe02_fd2.txt contain the overall score for reasoning

Study 2: Ostendorf, F. & Angleitner, A. (2004). NEO Persönlichkeitsinventar nach Costa und McCrae (revidierte Fassung).

• assessment of Big Five and each of the 6 facets (8 items per facet)
• response format: 0 (strong rejection ), 1 (rejection), 2 (neutral), 3 (approval), 4 (strong approval)
• the research data file srra08pe02_fd2.txt contains the sum scores per domain and per facet

Data Collection Method:

• Group Administration
• Paper and Pencil

Population:

11th grade students of German secondary schools

Survey Time Period:

Sample:

Convenience sample

Gender Distribution:

Study 1:
49,4 % female subjects (n=208)
50,6 % male subjects (n=213)

Study 2:
44,9 % female subjects (n=109)
55,1 % male subjects (n=134)

Age Distribution: Study 1: 15-18 years; Study 2: 15-18 years

Spatial Coverage (Country/Region/City): Germany/North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Württemberg

Subject Recruitment:

The survey took place as part of a job application training at secondary schools. The participants were informed that during the training they got to know instruments that are also used in personnel selection procedures. Participants were offered feedback on their results if they were interested. Only students whose parents had previously given their written consent could attend.

Sample Size:

Study 1: 421 individuals, Study 2: 243 individuals

Return/Drop Out:

Participation rate in both studies was 90%.