In the Educational Nexus: Understanding the Sequential Influence of Big Five Personality Traits, Major Identity, and Self-Esteem on Academic Outcomes through Clustering Algorithms

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between the Big Five personality traits, major identity, self-esteem, and academic outcomes in education. It uses clustering techniques to examine the impact of these factors on students’ academic performance. The research reveals unique patterns when considering personality traits, major identity formation, and self-esteem. The findings highlight the importance of considering these factors when understanding academic attainment trajectories. The study uses popular clustering methods like K-means, DBSCAN, and Hierarchical clustering to reveal latent clusters and provide unique profiles with different combinations of major identity orientations, personality traits, and self-esteem levels. The performance of clustering algorithms is also evaluated using standard assessment metrics. The findings offer insights into the sequential influence of these factors on academic outcomes, guiding the design of student-centric learning materials and providing a framework for promoting successful academic results through an all-encompassing strategy for student development.