PERSONALITY TRAITS AND CAREER CHOICE AMONG PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN GHANAIAN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION: A STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING APPROACH

Abstract

This study examined the influence of personality traits on career choice among pre-service teachers in Ghanaian Colleges of Education. Data were collected from 421 respondents using the Big Five Personality Test (BFI-20) and the Teachers’ Career Choice Scale (TCCS). Analytical cross-sectional survey design and Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM) were employed for data analysis. Results revealed that agreeableness was the dominant personality trait among pre-service teachers, followed by conscientiousness, openness, extraversion, and neuroticism. Personality traits significantly predicted career choice dimensions, with neuroticism emerging as the strongest predictor. The findings underscore the importance of considering personality traits in career counselling to guide pre-service teachers towards fulfilling careers. This research contributes to the understanding of factors influencing career choice in the teaching profession, particularly in developing country contexts like Ghana.