On the Relationship between Personality Traits, Studying Approaches and Academic Achievement in BA Students at Allameh Tabatabai University

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between personality traits, studying approaches and academic achievement in BA students at Allameh Tabataba’i University. The method used in the study was descriptive-correlational survey. In this research, a total sample of 110 students was chosen by cluster sampling. The sampled students were asked to fill out the Personality Five-Factor Questionnaire along with the Approaches and Skills of Study Questionnaire, and their semester average was used as the criterion of academic achievement. The results of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient showed that the relationship of neuroticism and surface approaches of studying with academic achievement was negative. The relationship between academic achievement and extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and deep approaches of studying was positive. Academic achievement was not associated with openness to experience. Furthermore, the multivariate regression analysis indicated that deep and surface approaches of studying, neuroticism, conscientiousness and extroversion could predict the academic achievement. Students who are more extroverted, agreeable or conscientious and use deeper studying approaches experience more academic achievement.