Similarities and differences in personality traits between private and public school students.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the personality characteristics of students attending four-year private institutions, four-year public institutions and two year community colleges to see if differences exist between the three different institutions. Four hundred twenty-six students (179 men, 247 women) ranging in age from 17 to 44 participated in the study. Demographic information was obtained for each participant including gender, classification, age, major, parent income, religious affiliation, and type of high school attended. In order to assure anonymity, each student received and completed the consent form prior to receiving a questionnaire booklet that could be completed within 20 minutes. At the completion of administering the questionnaire, which consisted of five inventories including the Purpose in Life Test, Learning Orientation Scale, Social Responsibility Scale, Faith Development Scale and A Test of Value Activities, the scores for each scale were calculated, and analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance. Significant differences were found between the students attending each type of institution as well as between men and women.