Graduation Year

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Psychology

Degree Granting Department

Psychology

Major Professor

Paul Spector, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Winny Shen, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Chad Dubé, Ph.D.

Keywords

accidents, injuries, performance, extraversion, conscientiousness

Abstract

Past research demonstrates the high prevalence of occupational accidents and injuries, and therefore much work has gone into examining potential antecedents to such incidences. However, while some research has examined personality as a potential antecedent, results suggesting personality as a significant predictor of occupational safety remain inconclusive. Therefore, the purpose of the current work is to conduct a cross-sectional multi-source survey study that will take a closer look at the relationships between various personality variables and occupational safety. Essentially, the purpose of the current study is threefold: (1) to examine the relationships between two Big Five personality factors, safety locus of control, and optimism bias as antecedents of safety performance and outcomes, (2) to take a facet-level analysis by breaking up the extraversion and conscientiousness factors into their constituent facets in order to see if each facet may be differentially related to occupational safety when compared the overall factor, and (3) to examine various moderators that may affect the relationships between extraversion and occupational safety. Results of this study suggest that the extraversion and conscientiousness facets are not differentially related to occupational safety. Further, some evidence for contextual moderators in the relationships between personality and safety performance was found. Overall, this study provides further insight into the role that personality may play in predicting safety across various industries.

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