Provides an overview of my research into the personality characteristics of technical communicators; presented at the West Michigan Shores Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC)

1. Technical Communicators and Personality Types What’s the hype? Results of an international Internet-based survey of technical writers Deborah Hemstreet http://www.tech-challenged.com [email_address]

5. These Qualities are Linked with Personality!

10. Technical Communicators and the “Big 5” The Five Factors of Personality

17. Results 223 Respondents

18. OCEAN Results Responsive / Resilient Adaptor Will Vary Focused Explorer Hypothesis Reactive 20 Adaptor 148 Extravert 57 Focused 69 Explorer 127 High Responsive 95 Negotiator 69 Ambivert 129 Balanced 128 Moderate 74 Avg. Resilient 108 Challenger 6 Introvert 37 Flexible 26 Preserver 22 Low N A E C O N=223

19. Correlations to Professional Effectiveness Based on additional TC-related survey and information provided by respondents

21. Results: Effectiveness

22. OCEAN vs Effectiveness scores Hypothesis: O + , C + , E o/+/- , A + , N o /N - - + o o + 42% + More Effective (n=24) - + o o + Average (n=141) o - 41% + o o + Less Effective (n=58) N A E C O Effectiveness

23. A Quick Look at the Differences Conscientiousness and Extraversion

26. Extraversion Correlations

28. Less effective TCs close-up Actual Overall Results: O + , C o , E o , A + , N - /N o Reactive 9 (16%) Adaptor 37 (64%) Extravert 11 (19%) Focused 10 (17%) Explorer 31 (53%) High Responsive 25 (43%) Negotiator 19 (33%) Ambivert 29 (50%) Balanced 38 (66%) Moderate 21 (36%) Avg. Resilient 24 (41%) Challenger 2 (3%) Introvert 18 (31%) Flexible 10 (17%) Preserver 6 (10%) Low N A E C O N=58

30. More effective TCs close-up Actual Overall Results: O + , C o , E o , A + , N - /N o Reactive 1 (4%) Adaptor 19 (79%) Extravert 10 (42%) Focused 10 (42%) Explorer 19 (79%) High Responsive 6 (25%) Negotiator 5 (21%) Ambivert 14 (58%) Balanced 12 (50%) Moderate 3 (13%) Avg. Resilient 17 (71%) Challenger 0 (0%) Introvert 0 (0%) Flexible 2 (8%) Preserver 2 (8%) Low N A E C O N=24

32. Average TCs close-up Actual Overall Results: O + , C o , E o , A + , N - /N o Reactive 10 (7%) Adaptor 92 (65%) Extravert 36 (26%) Focused 49 (35%) Explorer 77 (55%) High Responsive 64 (45%) Negotiator 45 (32%) Ambivert 86 (61%) Balanced 78 (55%) Moderate 50 (35%) Avg. Resilient 67 (48%) Challenger 4 (3%) Introvert 19 (13%) Flexible 14 (10%) Preserver 14 (10%) Low N A E C O N=141

36. What do you think? Lets talk about these results and how to use them in real life situations

37. Contact Me Deborah Hemstreet http://www.tech-challenged.com [email_address]

42. Close-up: General Writers (n=84) Reactive 8 (10%) Adaptor 60 (71%) Extravert 20 (24%) Focused 27 (32%) Explorer 47 (56%) High Responsive 36 (43%) Negotiator 21 (25%) Ambivert 51 (61%) Balanced 47 (56%) Moderate 27 (32%) Avg. Resilient 40 (48%) Challenger 3 (4%) Introvert 13 (15%) Flexible 10 (12%) Preserver 10 (12%) Low N A E C O N=84

43. Close-up: Lone Writers (n=53) Reactive 5 (9%) Adaptor 31 (58%) Extravert 10 (19%) Focused 16 (30%) Explorer 31 (58%) High Responsive 24 (45%) Negotiator 21 (40%) Ambivert 33 (62%) Balanced 30 (57%) Moderate 17 (32%) Avg. Resilient 24 (45%) Challenger 1 (2%) Introvert 10 (19%) Flexible 7 (13%) Preserver 5 (9%) Low N A E C O N=53

44. Close-up: Managers (n=25) Reactive 0 (0%) Adaptor 16 (64%) Extravert 8 (32%) Focused 11 (44%) Explorer 16 (64%) High Responsive 11 (44%) Negotiator 8 (32%) Ambivert 13 (52%) Balanced 12 (48%) Moderate 6 (24%) Avg. Resilient 14 (56%) Challenger 1 (4%) Introvert 4 (16%) Flexible 2 (8%) Preserver 3 (12%) Low N A E C O N=25

45. Close-up: Info Design & Visual Arts (n=23) Reactive 2 (9%) Adaptor 13 (57%) Extravert 5 (22%) Focused 4 (17%) Explorer 14 (61%) High Responsive 9 (39%) Negotiator 10 (43%) Ambivert 15 (65%) Balanced 17 (74%) Moderate 8 (35%) Avg. Resilient 12 (52%) Challenger 0 (0%) Introvert 3 (13%) Flexible 2 (9%) Preserver 1 (4%) Low N A E C O N=23

46. Close-up: Editors (n=18*) *Not statistically significant – more research is needed Reactive 5 (28%) Adaptor 13 (72%) Extravert 6 (33%) Focused 3 (17%) Explorer 11 (61%) High Responsive 4 (22%) Negotiator 4 (22%) Ambivert 7 (39%) Balanced 10 (56%) Moderate 5 (28%) Avg. Resilient 9 (50%) Challenger 1 (6%) Introvert 5 (28%) Flexible 5 (28%) Preserver 2 (11%) Low N A E C O N=18