Using Personality Factors to Predict Interface Learning Performance

This current study explored the impact of individual differences in personality factors on interface interaction and learning performance in both an interactive visualization and a menu-driven web application. Participants were administered 6 psychometric measures designed to assess trait anxiety, locus of control, and other personality traits. Participants were then asked to complete 3 procedural tasks and 3 inferential tasks in each interface. Results demonstrated that participants with an external locus of control completed inferential tasks more quickly than those with an internal locus. Factor analysis of items from the 6 psychometric scales isolated a 9-item short measure, which showed trending with procedural scores. Additionally, data demonstrated that the visualization interface was more effective and efficient for the completion of the inferential tasks. Participants also preferred the visualization to the web interface for both types of task. Implications and future directions of this research are also discussed.