Personality: A source of test bias?

چکیده مقاله

The present study investigated the relationship between the EFL learners’ personality traits
and their performance on the English vocabulary and grammar tests. Based on this aim, first,
158 intermediate EFL learners were selected from among 324 language learners of a private
language institute in Urmia (Iran) as the participants of the study based on their results on a
proficiency test. Second, the participants respectively received the NEO-Five-Factor
Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992), the vocabulary test of the study, and the grammar test of
the study for the determination of their personality traits, English vocabulary test performance,
and English grammar test performance during three sessions in a 10-day period. The standard
multiple regression was employed for data analysis. The results of the study showed that, the
learners’ openness to experience and extraversion personality traits had significant positive
correlations with their vocabulary and grammar test performance and these traits significantly
contributed to the prediction of the variance in the results of these tests. It was argued that,
personality may be regarded as a source of bias in second language test performance. The
results of the study may provide practical guidelines for the EFL teachers and syllabus
designers. Moreover, these results may have theoretical implications for second language
testing specialists in the process of test validation.