Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Extroverted and Introverted Iranian EFL Students

The present study is a research which explores the relationship between introversion/extroversion and the use of vocabulary learning strategies. The participants were ۸۰ male and female EFL students of University of Sistan and Baluchestan who had studied EFL at the university for at least two years and were randomly selected. The participants were selected after excluding those who got L scores of above ۴ or ۵ from the EPI personality inventory. They were then divided into two groups of introverts and extroverts based on the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). The independent sample t-test was run to examine if there is a significant relationship between the students’ personality type (intro/extra) and their use of vocabulary learning strategies. It was found that there is no difference between introverts and extroverts in the overall use of vocabulary learning strategies as well as in the use of cognitive, memory, and social strategies. However, a significant difference was found between these two groups in the use of determination strategies. It was also found that of the four categories, determination strategies were the most frequently used category by all the participants. The results also revealed that extroverts used vocabulary learning strategies more frequently than their introverted counterparts.

Keywords:

Introversion , Extroversion , Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs) , EFL Learners , Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI)