Personality Type and Performance on Listening Tests: A Study of Correlation between Personality Traits and Performance on “Listening for Gist” and “Minimal Pairs”

摘要

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between personality traits and performance on two types of listening test. Participants of the study were 60 advanced L2 learners in two branches of ILI in Tehran. Myers-Briggs personality questionnaire, a test of listening for gist, and a test of minimal pairs were used. Pearson coefficients were calculated to find any significant correlation between personality traits and participants’ scores on these two listening tests. The obtained results indicated that degree of thinking / feeling is significantly correlated with performance on both listening tests. Also, degree of judging / perceiving had a relatively significant correlation with performance on minimal pairs test. Being good at analytical and objective mode of processing is suggested to be the key feature that might help thinking people to perform successfully in listening for gist test. On the other hand, degree of thinking had a significant negative correlation with performance on minimal pairs test. Finally, degree of judging / perceiving had a significant correlation with participants’ scores on minimal pairs test. Being flexible, adaptive, and receptive to open options are suggested to be the main characteristics that help perceiving people to perform successfully in minimal pairs test.