ABSTRACT
This study investigated the relationship that exists between personality traits and attitude of students towards learning. A total of five hypotheses were tested in the study. The study adopted the co relational research design. The A total of 384 students (192 males and 192 females) were recruited to participate in the study but 372 finally participated. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was adequately validated with a reliability index of 0.89 for Personality Traits Rating Scale and 0.92 for Students' Attitude Towards Learning Rating Scale. The Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient was used to analyses the data. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The result shows that the five personality traits of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticisms and openness to experience had significant relationship with students' attitude towards learning. The study recommended that personality assessment should be carried out on students as part of their entry qualification
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE - - - - - - - ii
DECLARATION - - - - - - - - iii
CERTIFICATION - - - - - - - - iv
DEDICATION - - - - - - - - v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - - - - - - vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of Problem - - - - - - 8
1.3 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 10
1.4 Research Questions- - - - - - - 11
1.5 Statement of the Hypothesis - - - - - 12
1.6 Significance of Study - - - - - - 13
1.7 Scope of the Study - - - - - - 14
1.8 Definition of Key Terms - - - - - 15
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 18
2.2 Conceptual Framework - - - - - - 33
2.3 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - 45
2.4 Empirical Review - - - - - - - 50
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design - - - - - - 56
3.2 Population of the Study - - - - - - 57
3.3 Sample Size - - - - - - - - 57
3.4Sampling Technique - - - - - - 58
3.5 Method of Data Collection - - - - - 58
3.6 Technique for Data Analysis - - - - - 59
3.7 Model Specification and Variable Definition - - 59
3.8 Measurement of Variables - - - - - 59
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.1 Presentation of Data - - - - - - 60
4.2 Discussion of Findings - - - - - - 79
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary - - - - - - - - 80
5.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - 80
5.3 Recommendations - - - - - - - 93
References - - - - - - - - 95
Appendix - - - - - - - - 98
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Character strength is a psychological concept that indicates that people have positive characters which is their strength to achieve positive result (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Character strength consist of 24 positive character that can be measure by VIA-IS measurement. It is well known that the experience in the university life is one where an individual gets access to diverse opportunities to develop themselves and their skills, knowledge, attitude in better ways. It is a time when students get an opportunity to apply and understand their own unique talents and character traits, to understand what they are good at, rather than lamenting on their demerits. Students in their university life get an opportunity and are bestowed with the responsibility to mold up their personality and excel in their academics. Therefore, if given a proper environment, wherein the students are able to express themselves freely and get to understand their unique talents, this would lead to an enhancement of their personal wellbeing, which in turn might lead to better academic performance. In an educational setting, academic performance has been found to be the most important indicator of gauging the efforts of the students. In most of the universities and other educational institutions in Nigeria, examination grades are considered the most important criteria of determining the level of academic performance. Many a times, the teachers overburdened with the excessive workload; parents overburdened with the demands of the society; the schools and colleges overburdened with the status and reputation requirement; end up assigning tasks and responsibilities to their students and children which at times turn out to be beyond their capacities and understanding. As a result, students end up considering examinations as simply an obligation to accomplish, without at times, trying to understand the main goal of their education process. Therefore it is utmost crucial, for universities to provide an atmosphere, wherein the students are capable of undertaking the responsibility for their own actions, understand the goals of the tasks assigned to them, think creatively and critically and make full utilization of the strengths of their character (character strengths). In this connection, it is important to take into consideration that, building up of character strengths, which is one of the critical goals of positive psychology, should be initiated in colleges, so that it would not only lead to acquiring higher grades in the present educational ventures, but also making better choices about their career.
University students spend almost all their time in the institution where they study. Therefore campus must be a proactive place to help students improving themselves. Seligman et al (2009) argued that most of the time university students spend and interact with their university environment was correlated with their well-being. Experience in campus allowed students to get various opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and attitude (Choudhury & Boorooah, 2017). The appropriate learning environment will encourage students to improve their personal wellbeing that will lead to better academic performance. Some aspects of good character showed correlation with academic performance. Students that follow intervention based on character strength showed changes of satisfaction (Duan, Ho, Tang, Li, & Zhang, 2014). Number of characters related to positive behavior in class and learning achievement such as perspective, leadership and humor (Wagner & Runch, 2015). On university students found that character of perseverance, love, gratitude, and hope will predict academic achievement (Park & Peterson, 2009). Good character is a well-developed trait. Character strengths consist of a series of characters, every character is contributed to well-being (Park & Peterson, 2009).
1.2 Statement of Problem
In an academic setting, academic performance is one of the most important indicator to know the result of student learning. Academic performance of undergraduates can be seen in grade point average (GPA). Viewed as the result of learning in university, grade point average becomes one of the important requirements that students must have to determine the steps to be taken after graduating from the institution. For students who want to continue their education to Master degree in any professional field, there are provisions for achieving a minimum GPA that students must be able to achieve. The required GPA for any student in Delta State University who desires to apply for the master’s degree after graduating is a minimum of 2.5.
GPA is used as one of the considerations when students will take amount of courses in the new semester. When doing trusteeship, lecturer will usually ask questions about their last GPA before agreeing to the proposed study plan. This is the way to prevent the decrease in student GPA because as mentioned before, GPA will be related to the ability of students to bear the burden of study in the next semester. Most universities in Nigeria do not provide an atmosphere of learning that allows students to take responsibility for their actions, understand their goal, think creatively and critically and utilize their character strength. It is important to consider that building character strength will help students achieve their desired academic achievement and also make better choices related to their career.
Supported by the findings of previous studies which stated that character strength has a positive and significant correlation to academic performance (Lounsbury et al, 2009; Bjurberg, 2014;
Weber & Ruch, 2012). The finding showed that character strength can help students achieve their GPA. However, these studies were not held in Delta State, Nigeria. The differences in values and culture that developed in social environment allow the other findings. The development of character strength also influenced by learning and experience that face of students of Delsu, who also have their own learning design that have been prepared based on the needs, targets and expectation that want to be achieved.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to investigate the effect of character strength on academic performance of undergraduates in Delta State University.
From the above objective, the specific objectives are to:
1. Examine how character strengths of university students are related to the academic performance of undergraduates in Delta State University.
2. Investigate the extent to character strengths are related to the life satisfaction of undergraduates in Delta State University.
3. Empirically determine the extent to which persistence will highly correlate with life satisfaction and academic performance of undergraduates in Delta State University.
1.4 Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses stated in alternate form will be tested in this study:
1. Character strength will significantly and positively relate with academic performance of undergraduates in Delta State University.
2. Character strength will significantly and positively relate with life satisfaction of undergraduates in Delta State University.
3. Character strength of persistence will highly be correlated with academic performance and life satisfaction of undergraduates in Delta State University.
1.5 Justification of the Study
Given the availability of measures, there have been correlates and consequences of different components of good character, especially in academic settings. Particular strengths of character- persistence, hope, gratitude and love- are robustly associated with academic performance across a range of students. For instance persistence has been highlighted in sustaining the efforts of students in an environment threatened with lots of challenges and pressure. Semester exams are upcoming and students are already faced with the pressure of reading to get good grades, but hope can trigger a person to overlook these challenges and believe in their success.
1.6 Significance of Study
Research on character strength is very limited on the students at school level. University is a place where individuals are faced with challenges and difficulties that may throw them into confusion and troubles. This study would help in understanding the strengths of students that needs to more be emphasized, as they can predict the level of student's satisfaction. At the same time, teachers, schools or educational institutes through this study would be able to provide intervention programs or seminars to enhance the satisfaction of life, academic performance and to motivate students as well as to avoid negative effects among students so that students have the strength to face any stressful environment.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study is delimited to undergraduate students of Delta State University, Abraka. Undergraduate students in psychology and sociology department in the university are selected for this study.
1.8 Operational Definition of Terms
The following terms are defined as they are conceptualized and measured in this study:
Ø Character Strengths: this as conceptualized by the Values in Action Project (VIA; Peterson & Seligman, 2004). These are traits that are positive and are reflected in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. There are 24 character strengths classified into six virtues.
Ø Academic Performance: This refers to the measurement of the students’ achievement across various academic subjects.
This is measured by the students GPA (Grade Point Average) which the score used to evaluate the performance of the student at the end of the semester.
Ø Undergraduates: This refers to an individual who is currently running a program for a Bachelor’s Degree.
Ø Positive Psychology: This can be said to be a discipline, which focuses on what makes individuals, and communities as a whole, thrive and live happily
Ø Life Satisfaction: This is the expected satisfaction of the students’ life in school by the fulfillment of his/her important academic goals or aspirations.
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