Figure 3 shows differences among students for three of the personality factors
measured. For the two others (Extroversion and Agreeableness), no significant differences
were found.
Figure 3
Students Personality Differences by Gender and Institution
On Openness, university students scored significantly higher, but gender differences
were not significant. A personal style of openness may contribute to the lower self-doubts
about technology that university students show in Figure
2. However, openness did not predict overall willingness.
The differences in Non-Neuroticism in the second set of columns were due to gender,
not type of institution. Both junior college and university men scored higher in
calmness-related traits. Calmness was a significant predictor of overall willingness,
so this gender difference is important to consider.
The third set of columns shows significantly higher Conscientiousness scores for
university students and for women students. Ironically, the higher conscientiousness
that may benefit other parts of female students' lives may act as an inhibitor in
regard to willingness to try technology. Higher conscientiousness might be at odds
with the lower tidiness or lower steadiness found among women who had high willingness
scores.
Because gender was a powerful predictor of overall willingness, it is important to
consider whether gender itself or gender-related factors are at work. These findings
on personality suggest that portions of the gender differences were due to gender
differences in personality, particularly calmness or traits related to conscientiousness.
This also suggests that gender role factors (masculinity, femininity, androgyny)
may be significant influences.