Personality and academic productivity in university students

The personality characteristics of the failing university student at the University of Seville were investigated. In total 103 students with a mean age of 21 years were evaluated using the 16 PF questionnaire.  The personality profile was completed by application of the Survey of Interpersonal Values (SIV), including an intelligence evaluation using the Wechsler Intelligence Test. The results support the majority of previous studies in which certain personality traits were found to relate to academic failure (Lathey, 1991; Weiss, Lotan, Kedar, & Ben-Shakhar, 1988).  Students who are failing in their courses scored significantly higher for neurosis and extroversion than did their population group. Results encourage consideration of the existence of other personality traits which limit academic success. We believe more precise lines of investigation and the formulation of new working hypotheses are called for.