Value Orientation and Personality Dimensions of Students Pursuing Diverse Academic Disciplines

Abstract

Personal values and personality dimensions have been a main subject of concern for researchers since long. Theoretical and empirical research provides the evidence regarding influence of personal values and personality dimensions in the decision regarding career. The major objective of the present study was to compare personal values, personality dimensions, and self-esteem of male and female students studying in Arts/Humanities (A/H) and Business/Technical (B/T) academic fields. The study was conducted in India, with the sample of 1200 students in the age range 18-25 years (for total sample, M = 21.5, SD = 2.9; for males, M = 21.1, SD = 2.7; for females, M = 20.5, SD = 2.1), drawn from various educational institutions of Punjab. The sample included 600 students from A/H field (300 males and 300 females) and 600 students from B/T field (300 males and 300 females). Intrinsic and extrinsic personal values were measured by Aspiration Index (AI) which yielded two dimensions of scores: Importance and Likelihood. Importance of values indicated the amount of priority they place on a specific value, while likelihood of values indicated the expectancy of occurrence of those values and goals in their future. Personality traits of extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism were measured by using Eysenck Personality Questionnaire- Revised (EPQ-R). Self-esteem was measured by using Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The present research employed personal values: importance, personal values: likelihood, psychoticism, neuroticism, extraversion, and self-esteem as independent variables (predictors) and choice of academic discipline as dependent (criterion) variable. Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), and t-test were used to compare the scores of students on personal values, subscales of personal values, and personality dimensions for the two academic fields and to analyse gender differences.