Personality and Drug Abuse as Antecedents of Eyewitness Testimony among Undergraduates of Ebonyi State University
This study examined personality and drug abuse as antecedents of eyewitness testimony among undergraduates of Ebonyi state University. The study sought to know if personality traits will play a role in eyewitness testimony of Nigerians; and whether drug abuse will equally play a role. Data for the study were obtained from 193 undergraduates of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki. The participants comprised 117 females and 76 males. Simple random sampling techniques were used in selecting the participants for the study. Participant’s ages ranged from 18 to 34 years with mean age as 22.23 (SD = 3.26). A questionnaire with demographic variables and three scales were used for data collection. The scales are Eyewitness Meta-memory Scale, Big Five Personality Inventory, and Drug Attitude Scale. Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) was used to test the predictive role of the independent variable (Drug abuse) on the dependent variable (eyewitness testimony), and the personality. The study shows that the five personality traits studied - extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience were not significantly related to eyewitness testimony. But it shows that Drug Attitude has significant relationship with eyewitness testimony of participants. Therefore, the personality traits were indicated not to be potential factors that can explain eyewitness testimony while Drug Attitude has significant potential to explain eyewitness testimony. The limitations of the study which include lack of funds, limited scope and insecurity were pointed out. Suggestions for further studies and recommendations for possible solutions to the issue of personality and drug abuse on eyewitness testimony were made.