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English Language Learners’ Big Five Personality Characteristics and Their Preference for Isolated or Integrated Form-Focused Instruction

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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the predictive power of personality traits for EFL students’ preference for isolated or integrated form-focused instruction (FFI). Participants were 160 Iranian EFL university students. Results indicated that students’ personality traits, as measured by Costa and McCrae (Revised NEO Personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) professional manual, Psychological Assessment Resources Inc., Odessa, FL, 1992) NEO-FFI, were significantly related to students’ preference for isolated or integrated grammar instruction as assessed by Student Preference for Grammar Instruction Questionnaire developed by Spada et al. (System, 37(1):70–81, 2009). Multiple regression analyses indicated that NEO-FFI variables of extroversion, agreeableness, and open to experience were significant positive predictors of EFL students’ preferences for integrated FFI while neuroticism had a negative relationship with that. Furthermore, NEO-FFI variables of conscientiousness and neuroticism were significant positive predictors of students’ preferences for isolated FFI while extroversion and open to experience had a negative relationship with it. The results were discussed and the implications were made with regard to individual differences in educational contexts.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions. Any remaining shortcomings are ours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English Language, University of Birjand, P.O.B. 97175-615, Birjand, Iran

    Hossein Navidinia & Zeinab Beidokhti

  2. Department of English Language, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

    Nargess Hekmati

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  1. Hossein Navidinia
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  2. Zeinab Beidokhti
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  3. Nargess Hekmati
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Correspondence to Hossein Navidinia.

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Navidinia, H., Beidokhti, Z. & Hekmati, N. English Language Learners’ Big Five Personality Characteristics and Their Preference for Isolated or Integrated Form-Focused Instruction. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 26, 75–83 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-017-0328-3

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