Identification of the Predictive Power of Five Factor Personality Traits for Individual Instrument Performance Anxiety

Abstract

This study, with the aim of identifying the predictive power of the five-factor personality traits of music teacher candidates on individual instrument performance anxiety, was designed according to the relational screening model. The study population was students attending the Music Education branch of Fine Arts Education Departments in Educational Faculties in Turkey with the sample comprising 256 students attending the Music Education branch of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Pamukkale University and Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University during the 2016-2017 academic year. For data collection in the study, the Individual Instrument Performance Test Anxiety Scale developed by Dalkıran et al. (2014) and the Adjective-based Personality Test developed by Bacanlı et al. (2009) according to the five factor concept were used. Correlation analysis was performed to test whether there was a significant correlation between the individual instrument performance anxiety of students and the five factor personality traits. Additionally, to determine the predictive power of the five factor personality traits on individual instrument test performance anxiety of Music Education branch students, standard multiple regression analysis was performed. Data were tested at the significance level of 0.05. According to the obtained data, it can be said there is a significant correlation between the individual instrument performance anxiety levels and the five factor personality traits of Music Education branch students. A positive and high level relationship was identified between performance anxiety levels and the five factor personality trait of emotional balance/neuroticism, while there was no correlation with agreeableness and performance anxiety level. Extraversion and openness to experience had a negative correlation with performance anxiety level, while there was a positive correlation observed between conscientiousness and performance anxiety. The five factor personality traits of emotional balance/neuroticism and conscientiousness positively and significantly predicted performance anxiety, while extraversion negatively and significantly predicted performance anxiety level. Contrarily, openness to experience and agreeableness were not identified to significantly predict performance anxiety level.