Relationship between Personality Traits and Goal Orientation among University Students: An Empirical Application of Achievement Goal Theory

The study was conducted to determine relationship between Personality Traits and Goal Orientation among Students at University Level in context of Achievement Goal Theory. The objectives of the study were to identify the personality traits in students, find out the Goal Orientation among Students and examine the relationship between personality traits and Goal Orientation among Students at University Level. The current study was quantitative in nature, and a cross-sectional survey method was used for data collection. The population of the study was consisted of fourteen hundred and thirty-four (1434) students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The researchers used random sampling technique for the selection of the sample. Three hundred and one (301) students from the population were taken as sample of the study. Two five-point Likert scale questionnaire were used as a tool in this study. The researchers personally visited the students at University of Kotli AJ&K for the collection of data. The researchers analyzed the data through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) by using Mean Score, Standard Deviation and Pearson’s Correlation. It is concluded that the university students exhibited the personality traits i.e. Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. The study recommended that the teachers may provide students intrinsic motivation so that their mastery of the subject being taught may be achieved. Furthermore, the university administration is recommended to arrange/ organize seminars/ training sessions to develop students’ personality traits which may ultimately strengthen the mastery skills of the students.