Abstract:

The major objectives of the present study were (i) to assess vanous personality traits of a group of Chinese and a group of lndian distance learners, (ii) to examine whether the distance learners belonging to a particular school of studies differ significantly in their personality traits from the distance learners of other schools of studies, and (iii) whether the Chinese distance learners show any significant difference in their personality traits from the lndian distance learners. A structured personality questionnaire developed by Eysenck and Wilson and consisting of 210 items was distn'buted among 100 Chinese and 100 lndian distance learners. Though, altogether 116 distance learners returned the questionnaire, finally, 105 completed questionnaires were analysed as per the objectives of the study. The study revealed school-wise and gender-wise differences in personality traits among the Chinese distance learners. Similarly, the Chinese and the lndian learners showed some differences in their personality traits. When the results were compared with the average scores provided by Eysenck and Wilson, the female lndian distance learners were found to be introvert The male lndian distance learners and both the male and female Chinese distance learners were neither introvert nor extravert. They lie somewhere in the middle of the extraversion-introversion dimension. Importance of personality assessment of the distance learners has been discussed.