1. Trait-Based Personality Profile of Software Programmers
A Study on Pakistan’s Software Industry By
Aamir Amin
Lecturer, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar

2. Introduction
Major software engineering issues are related with personality of software engineers [1].
However, the research work on personality in software engineering is ongoing, immature, scarce, many areas are untapped, and the results are inconclusive and feeble [1] [3] [4] [5].
Moreover, most of the research work in this area is conducted in western countries [5] and the research on south Asian software professionals is scarce [6].

3. Problem Statement
Most of the earlier profiles of personality in software engineering are based on personality types and not the traits.
Insignificant research work on personality profile of programmers.

4. Literature Review Personality in Software Engineering
Programmer’s Personality
Five Factor Model

5. Personality in SE
Personality has an impact on software engineer's judgment, decision making [7] as well as the choice of processes, methods and techniques [8].
According to Cruz, Da Silva and Capretz [5]:
Most of the work on personality in software engineering has been conducted recently (72% after 2002).
More than half of the studies were conducted in western culture especially United States
The respondents of majority of the studies were students (60%).
As for the personality tests, majority of the studies have used Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI) (48%) followed by the Big Five (BF) or Five Factor Model (FFM) (17%).

6. Programmer’s Personality
Programming is a human centric task; hence programmer's personality has been a subject of interest [11]
Few researchers have analyzed the relationship between personality and programming (i.e. [11] [12]).
As for the personality profile of programmers:
Using MBTI, as in [1] concluded that the job of a programmer requires attention to details as well as a logical and analytical thinking style which is Thinker and Sensor Personality Type.
In the past, it was believed that a programmer is likely to be an introvert.
Using FFM, theoretical study of [15] concluded that major traits of programmers are extraversion, openness to experience and agreeableness.
Nowadays the software industry needs individuals who are extroverts and who possess better interpersonal communication skills [1].

7. Five Factor Model (FFM) [18] [19]
Extrovert, talkative, enthusiastic, friendly, active, ambitious and assertive
Extraversion
Kindness, empathy, warmth, trust and being considerate and cooperative towards others
Agreeableness
Being persistent, systematic, purposeful, hardworking, attentive, thorough and ambitious in completing tasks in a well, reliable and efficient manner.
Conscientiousness
Originality, curiosity, broad mindedness, intellect, unconventional approach
Openness to Experience
Moodiness, anxiety, agony, self-pity, hopelessness, insecurity, envy, frustration, nervousness, fearfulness and loneliness
Neuroticism

8. Methodology Sample size determination through G Power 3.0 program.
Required Sample = 146
Multistage probability sampling method.
Data was gathered from 294 programmers working in a Offshore Software Development Outsourcing (OSDO) environment in Pakistan.
Pre-validated survey instrument using 5-point likert scale.
This research work has adopted the BFI instrument by [24] to measure personality traits

9. Response Rate In Person Enumerator Email Total
In Person
Enumerator
Total
Total number of Questionnaire sent
246
111 81
438
Invalid Responses (incl. loss, no return, incomplete, refusal to participate etc.) 41 60 45
144
Valid Responses
205 53 36
294
Response Rate
83.33%
47.74%
44.44%
67.12%

10. Data Analysis SPSS Mean and standard deviation
Through mean values, the personality trait which has the highest mean value signifies the trait most prominent among programmers

11. Results and Discussion

12. Reliability Analysis Variable Cronbach's Alpha Composite Reliability
Total No. of Items
Final of Items
Agreeableness
0.909
0.933 9 5
Conscientiousness
0.893
0.921
Extraversion
0.755
0.844 8 4
Neuroticism
0.940
0.952 6
Openness to Experience
0.954
0.961 10

13. Multicollinearity
According to the results, The VIF values of all the variables are below the threshold of 10.
Variable
VIF
Agreeableness
3.877
Conscientiousness
4.745
Extraversion
1.063
Neuroticism
1.280
Openness to Experience
2.432

14. Validity Analysis
Average Variance Extracted (AVE) was used to analyse the convergent validity. All values are above the threshold of 0.5.
Variable
AVE
Agreeableness
0.735
Conscientiousness
0.700
Extraversion
0.576
Neuroticism
0.769
Openness to Experience
0.732

15. Programmer’s Personality Profile
According to results, agreeableness trait scored highest mean value of 3.64, followed by conscientiousness trait.
Descriptive Statistics N
Mean
Std. Deviation
Extraversion
294
3.27
0.72
Agreeableness
3.64
1.00
Conscientiousness
3.61
0.99
Neuroticism
2.70
1.17
Openness to Experience
3.31

16. Discussion
A programmer has to be polite, cooperative, patient and calm [28]. These attributes correspond well with the attributes associated with agreeableness trait such as cooperation with others, calmness and kindness / politeness [4] [18] [19].
Programmers need to be able to pay attention to details, should be able to work independently and are analytical and logical [1]. These attributes correspond well with the conscientiousness trait attributes such as being attentive, thorough and systematic [18] [19].
Secondly, in a collectivist culture, there is more emphasis on group harmony in contrast to individual achievement [29]. Pakistan is a collectivist society, where a strong grouping structure prevails among employees [30]. Hence, it is plausible that most of the programmers in Pakistani context possess agreeable or conscientiousness traits.
The results of this research are also in congruence with the prior studies. Studies like [2] [15] [18] considered agreeableness as the dominant trait among programmers. Furthermore, studies like [2] and [31] also indicated towards prevalence of conscientiousness trait among programmers.

17. Discussion (Cont.)
In present study, extraversion and neuroticism has scored the least among all the personality traits.
As for extraversion, as in [17], programmers mostly scored less in extraversion trait due to their interest in computers which comes with compromising their social lives and vice versa.
As for neuroticism, this can be due to the attributes associated with the neuroticism trait. A neurotic individual shows lack of self- confidence and calmness which, as mentioned earlier, are important traits of a programmer [28]. Neurotic individuals also exhibit distraction from work [32], whereas programmers need to be focused in their task [28].

18. Conclusion
The present research attempted to develop the trait-based profile of the programmers working in the OSDO environment in Pakistan.
The results showed that agreeableness and conscientiousness traits are the dominant traits among programmers working in Pakistan whereas extraversion and neuroticism are the marginal ones.
The study is one of the few studies conducted on personality traits in a south Asian country. Moreover, it adds to the body of knowledge which is growing and, due to the inconsistencies, require further investigation.
Future work of this study is to analyze the personality traits of Software developers from other Asian countries. This will help to identify the general personality traits of Software developers in Asian countries.
The study is a small part of a detailed doctoral study on impact of programmer’s personality traits on creativity

19. References
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