ABSTRACT
Figure 8.1 illustrates some of the key distinctions to be made between the multifarious individual difference constructs established by research on personality, motivation, and ability. Arguably, the most fundamental models describe basic traits that generalize across most areas of life, including education. Such general models often have a hierarchical structure that accommodates numerous correlated primary traits, together with a more parsimonious second-order factor structure. The Five Factor Model (FFM: Costa & McCrae, 1992) is currently the most widely used dimensional scheme of this kind. It distinguishes broad secondary factors of Extroversion (E), Neuroticism (N), Conscientiousness (C), Agreeableness (A), and Openness (0). Each one of these factors subsumes multiple primary factors; for example, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem are some of the facets of N. Many of the standard questionnaires that assess primary and secondary traits are available in forms suitable for adolescents and older children.
