An investigation into the relationship between personality and learning styles in construction industry: As a potential tool for improving health and safety performance

Abstract

Occupational injuries and fatalities still continue to plaque the construction industry despite of the researches on the health and safety. There is little research on the key factors influencing unsafe behaviours, and accidents on construction sites. This study investigates the individual differences in learning style and personality as a fundamental factor for the prediction of construction site accidents. The individual personalities have been measured through the Big Five Factor Model and the Index of Learning Styles to assess differences in how individuals learn. Data were collected from 104 construction professionals in the construction industry through online survey. Analyses of statistical tests using SPSS revealed a number of relationships between the Big Five personality traits, learning styles and accident proneness of construction professionals. The findings revealed relationships between the Big Five personality traits, learning styles and occupational accident frequency of construction professionals. Significant relations were found between accident involvement and all Big Five personality traits. The findings cannot definitively state the overlap between personality and learning styles, which do not support the view that learning styles are fully measured by personality scales. Another finding revealed by the correlation analysis is neuroticism's negative relationship with accident involvement in construction site accidents.