2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

How Personality Impacts Academic, Professional, and Social Activity Preferences of Engineering Students

Engineering students with different personalities may benefit from different types of support activities, though the impact may vary based on individual preferences and needs. Although introversion and extroversion are the personality traits most commonly known to the general public, traits such as agreeableness, conscientiousness, and assertiveness also play a role in how students are perceived and interact with the world. Some students may prefer environments that allow for deep analysis and design, while others may find more satisfaction in activities that involve collaboration and communication, such as participating in engineering competitions or social events. Those with different personalities may succeed in engineering by coming together and finding activities that align with their strengths and interests. Engineering is inherently collaborative, and all personalities bring valuable skills to the field. Therefore, the key is for students to engage in activities that help them grow personally and professionally, regardless of their natural predilections. The main purpose of this study is to identify how different personalities in students affect their enjoyment of and participation in professional and academic development to better cater activities to the majority of students.

To assess student personality, the IPIP (International Personality Item Pool) was administered to a group of engineering students participating in an NSF S-STEM Program. Student participants then answered additional survey questions to measure their participation in and enjoyment of different types of academic support, professional development, and social activities. The key findings of this paper show that there is no correlation between extraversion and participation in program or informal activities, but there is a positive correlation between extraversion and enjoyment of activities. These findings provide insights for tailoring social and academic experiences to better support students on both ends of the extraversion/introversion spectrum. The survey results also suggest that there are other factors besides one’s personality that affect the enjoyment and participation of activities. Future research may examine the role of personality dimensions not explored in the present study.

Authors

Ashtyne Klair Monceaux Louisiana Tech University [biography]

Ashtyne Monceaux, from Crowley, Louisiana, is a third-year undergraduate student at Louisiana Tech University, currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering. She hopes to pursue a career in Water Resources Engineering. Ashtyne's involvement with her university's own NSF S-STEM Success Scholars Program lead to her research in engineering education. Ashtyne is a member of Louisiana Tech's Honors College, an ambassador for the College of Engineering and Science, a student member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Past President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the current Vice President of Tau Beta Pi.
Caroline Cresap http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8136-0280 Louisiana Tech University [biography]

Caroline Cresap is a third-year chemical engineering major at Louisiana Tech University. She is a College of Engineering and Science SUCCESS Scholar with Ashtyne Monceaux, and President of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). She in involved in organizations such as the Honors Student Advisory Board (HSAB), Omega Chi Epsilon (OXE), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). In addition to her research in engineering education, she is an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Yang Xiao's Reaction Engineering and Catalysis Science Laboratory at Louisiana Tech University.
Dr. Mitzi Desselles http://orcid.org/https://0000-0003-2806-9838 Louisiana Tech University [biography]

Dr. Desselles is Associate Professor and Chester Ellis Endowed Professorship in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Louisiana Tech University. She is a member of the graduate faculty in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Dr. Krystal Corbett Cruse Louisiana Tech University [biography]

Dr. Krystal Corbett is the First-Year Engineering Programs Coordinator and Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Louisiana Tech University. She is also the Director of the Office for Women in Science and Engineering at Louisiana Tech.
Dr. David Hall Louisiana Tech University [biography]

David Hall develops and promotes project-based engineering for engineering and engineering technology programs. He believes that projects build intuition and confidence which are important for the successful application of fundamentals and the successful development of technology solutions.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025