Abstract
This study examined the ability of two "Big Five" personality dimensions (Openness to Experience and conscientiousness) to predict performance on Space Fortress, a complex perceptual-motor skill task. One hundred and two paid subjects completed 11 hours of Space Fortress, a cognitive ability measure, and two measures of the "Big Five". Results indicated that although openness to Experience correlated positively with Space Fortress performance across the Space Fortress trials, not all of these correlations were significant. conscientiousness did not correlate significantly with performance across any of the Space Fortress trials. Consequently, neither of the personality variables contributed significant incremental validity to the prediction of Space Fortress performance, above the prediction provided by the cognitive ability measure. Cognitive ability correlated significantly with Space Fortress performance across all of the Space Fortress trials. The two "Big Five" personality measures predicted performance similarly for all but the Openness to Experience personality dimension. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Gottesfeld, Noga (1994). Openness and conscientiousness as predictors of performance on a complex perceptual-motor skill task. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1994 -THESIS -G6854.