Personality preferences of accounting students: a longitudinal case study

Abstract

Abstract As the skills needed to succeed in accounting broaden, accounting programs must develop recruiting strategies to attract and retain individuals with a broader range of personality characteristics. As a form of recruitment evaluation, this study uses the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to examine the characteristics of accounting students recruited into and retained by one of the original Accounting Education Change Commission (AECC) grant programs. Results indicate that, contrary to expectations, the personality types attracted to and retained in the program have not become more diverse over the course of 8 years. These results may imply that certain requisite preferences are needed to succeed in accounting or that homogeneity has benefits not previously considered. They certainly suggest a need to further refine recruiting processes, to focus on broader perceptions of the profession, to evaluate faculty's own preferences and biases and/or to develop curriculum to help students learn to utilize their less preferred personality traits.