Broad and narrow personality traits in relation to the job performance of camp counselors

Abstract

We examined personality traits important for the job performance of summer camp counselors, including several of the Big Five and narrow personality traits. Performance was based on two composite scales: social performance and task performance. The personality traits of work drive, extraversion, nurturance, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were significantly related to the social performance measure, and the traits of customer service orientation, work drive, extraversion, nurturance, agreeableness, emotional stability, and conscientiousness were significantly related to the Task Performance measure. Results from the stepwise regression indicate that the traits of agreeableness and extraversion were the best predictors for the social performance measure, while work drive was the best predictor for task performance. Expectancy tables illustrated the large differences in job performance between employees in the upper and lower thirds on selected traits. Results were discussed in terms of the Big Five model, directions for future research, study limitations, and practical advantages of using personality measures in the pre-employment screening process for camp counselors.