Does personality affect our participation with the open

environment?

?Using the Five-factor model of personality (FFM) also known as the

‘Big 5’

Debbie Meakin, H818 Theme: Inclusion/Implementation

Introduction

The accessibility of online environments is a general entitlement to being inclusive (TechDis). Inclusioncan be considered from many points of view. Traditionally specific characteristics are taken into account, as they present barriers to online access. In a similar way other aspects of the individual may present barriers. Personality of an individual is one such area and has been the subject of related studies (Bloomer & Doering (2012), Scealy et al, 2002).

Outcomes of the study

An understanding of the relevance of personality to inclusion for online and open environments will be investigated. This study proposes to look at extending previous work on online studies and consider whether aspects of being involved with the open environment might affect participation through behaviour (or personality). From this, the applicability of personality in open environment studies may also inform implementation work.

Personality is organised into 5 dimensions or traits by psychologists

The five-factor model (FFM )has five areas known as dimensions and these are, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience.

The five dimensions are agreed among psychologists as being stable (McCrae and John,1992) and this has enabled the use of this system as a basis for comparison, sharing and understanding across many studies.

The five dimensions(FFM or big 5)

EXTROVERSION:

Active, Energetic, Outgoing, Talkative

AGREEABLENESS:

Appreciative, Generous,

Sympathetic, Trusting

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS:

Efficient, Organised, Reliable, Thorough

NEUROTICISM:

Anxious, Tense, Unstable, Worrying

OPENNESS:

Artistic, Curious, Imaginative, Wide

interests

Previous studies

• Personality expression when working online has been investigated (Blumer and Doering, 2012). Four of the personality areas affected behaviour online less than offline (see Fig 1).

• Shyness and anxiety have also been suggested as having an effect online. Although Scealy, Phillips & Stevenson (2002) found that this did not relate to email use or chat rooms.

• Tsao (2013) found that openness is a positive factor online for entertainment, social relationships and communication while agreeableness has a negative impact on communication.

Behaviour influence decreases online (Blumer and Doering 2012)

Figure 1: Results of a study by Blumer and Doering (2012) using the big 5 personality to Compare outcomes offline and online. (Figure 2, Cyberpsychology: 6(3), article 5).

Methodology – the big 5

The use of a questionnaire which includes questions on each dimension is used to give feedback on personality. These can be accessed online as there are a number of sites which can be used freely to give this information.

Alternative formats are available – widely and also online.

This method of questionnaire use is identified as self-reporting or self-rating.

Study approach next stages

• The next stage of the study involves participants from a variety of backgrounds contributing their opinions from their own experience.

• Participants are initially invited to do a personality test (online or otherwise). This will give an appreciation of the ‘big 5’ from personal experience (but is also optional).

• Based on a series of categories or questions on open environment working participants are then asked to contribute to a discussion (using different formats) including being involved in a workshop. (This activity could form an ethnographic piece as an output, click on this link for more*)

References

• McCrea, RR; John O. (1992). “An Introduction to the Five-Factor Model and Its Applications”. Journal of Personality 60 (2): 175-215.

• Scealy, M.;Phillips; JG. Stevenson, R. (2002). Shyness and anxiety as predictors of patterns of internet usage. CyberPsychology & Behaviour 5 (6): 507-515.

• TechDis: http://www.jisctechdis.ac.uk/• Tsao, WC. (2013). Big Five Personality Traits as Predictors of Internet

Usage Categories. International Journal of Management 30 (4): 374-386.

• Questionnaire sites: will analyse responses and produce a profile (eg http://personality-testing.info/tests/BIG5.php; http://www.fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Personality-BigFiveInventory.pdf).

Alternative formats

• Audio (to be added)

• pdf file of slide show transcript

• pdf file of Prezi transcript