ABSTRACT

The research was carried out to analyze if there exist a relationship between personality factors and teacher effectiveness among senior secondary school teachers in south east zone of Nigeria. The study was guided by seven research questions and seven research hypothesis. The study adopted descriptive survey and correlational research designs. The population comprised 4,628 male teachers and 7,014 female teachers from 587 senior secondary schools spread across 95 local government areas in 24 education zones of south eastern states of Nigeria. The sample was 1164 teachers comprising of 737 females and 427 males selected from 59 (fifty-nine) secondary schools. Multi stage sampling procedure was used in selecting the States, Education Zones, Local Government Areas, the schools and teachers. The instruments for data collection were “Teachers Personality Scale” (TPS) and “Teacher Effectiveness Scale” (TES). The instruments were face validated by three Experts. The measure of stability of the Teachers Personality Scale” (TPS) and “Teacher Effectiveness Scale” (TES) were 0.82 and 0.89 respectively while internal consistency of the Teachers Personality Scale” (TPS) and “Teacher Effectiveness Scale” (TES) were 0.73 and 0.73 respectively.  The data for the study were collected through the administration of 1164 copies of the “teacher effectiveness scale and the Personality Trait Scale (PTS). Simple and Multiple Linear Regression analysis were used to answer the research questions and hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that teachers’ personality such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and consciousness significantly predict teachers’ effectiveness.  The Male teachers’ joint personality factors such as Neuroticism Extraversion, Openness Agreeableness and Conscientiousness do not significantly predict their effectiveness and the Female teachers’ joint personality factors (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness do significantly predict their effectiveness. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended that government and school administrators should organize seminars and conferences where teachers’ personality factors such as Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness will be harnessed and developed since they predict both male and female teacher effectiveness.