The relation between self directed learning skills and personality traits of university students

The main purpose of this research is to find whether there is a relation between the self directed learning skills and personality traits of university students at different levels. For this purpose, two different scales were used. In order to determine the self-direction skills of university students "Self Directed Learning Scale" developed by the researcher was used; short form of "The Bıg Fıve Inventory" developed by Benet-Martinez and John (1998) and adapted into Turkish by Sümer, Lajunen, and Özkan (2005) was used to determine personality traits. In the study, the descriptive survey model, which is a model based on quantitative data, was used. Survey models are classified as general survey models and case studies, and general survey models can be used for relational or singular surveys. Since this study aimed to determine the relation between two variables, which were self-direction skills and personality traits, the model of the research was determined as relational survey, which is one of the general survey models. 553 students in total, studying at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University participated in the research. While 281 of these students are studying at faculties, 39 at institutes, 29 at colleges and 204 at vocational colleges. The data obtained from these two scales were analyzed with the SPSS 24 program. At first, validity analysis, item analysis, reliability analysis, item-scale total correlation, explanatory factor analysis, item discrimination analyzes and confirmatory factor analysis of the scale which is developed by the researcher for this study were performed. As a result of these analyzes, it has been seen that the fit indices of the scale have acceptable values, and as such, the 4-factor structure of the scale is confirmed. In addition, it has been seen that the "Self Directed Learning Scale" is a highly reliable scale with a reliability level of 0.895. In the descriptive analyzes of two different scales used in this research, mean and standard deviation values were calculated. Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine the relation between the independent variable and the dependent variable; regression analyzes were used to determine the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable. According to the results of the research, when the personality traits of university students at different levels are examined; extraversion, agreeableness, openness and honesty levels are higher than neuroticism. University students have high self-directed learning skills. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was found that there is a relation between self directed learning skills and personality traits. According to this, while there is a positive relation between self directed learning and the sub-dimensions of the personality traits scale such as extraversion, agreeableness, honesty and openness; a negative correlation was found between self-directed learning and neuroticism.