Personality Traits as Predictors of Self-Regulated Learning and Academic Engagement among College Students in Ghana: A Dimensional Multivariate Approach

Abstract

The study explored personality traits as they predicted self-regulated learning and academic engagement among college students in Ghana. A sample of 652 (return rate was 87.0%) was drawn from an accessible population of 17,396. Adapted versions of Taiwanese Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (22 items; α = 0.84), University Student Engagement Inventory (15 items; α = 0.81), and Big-Five Personality Inventory (30 items; α = 0.70) were used for the data collection. The data collected were analysed using multivariate multiple regression. The study revealed that student-teachers exhibited lower levels of self-regulated learning and academic engagement. Again, openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and agreeableness aspects of the personality traits predicted self-regulated learning and academic engagements of students. Findings from this study serve as a beacon for teacher education programs in Ghana to scale up their efforts in ensuring that preservice teachers are able to self-regulate their learning. As preservice teachers who will soon be practicing, they cannot help their students self-regulate their learning if they themselves have low levels of self-regulation and engagement. Students’ success can only be realized when learners are able to manage their own learning and engage in academic activities.