<p>As a starting point, you might be interested in studies that have related vocational preferences with personality. In particular, <a href="http://www.careerkey.org/choose-a-career/holland-personality-types.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Holland's model</a> of job preferences has been highly studied.</p>

<p>Practical sense sounds a little like the "realistic" dimension in Holland's framework.</p>

<p>Larson et al (2002) report a meta-analysis of the Big 5 and Holland's types.
Based on this meta-analysis, while there were correlations between the Big 5 and other types, there did not appear to be any strong (or even moderate) correlations between the realistic preference and the Big 5:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IG1iw.png" alt="big5 holland realistic correlations"></p>

<p>Note. based on n > 5,000.</p>

<h3>References</h3>

<p>Larson, L. M., Rottinghaus, P. J., &amp; Borgen, F. H. (2002). Meta-analyses of Big Six interests and Big Five personality factors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(2), 217-239.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-13T05:37:35.410Z
2015-07-13T05:37:35.410Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p><strong>Some claims on personality correlations to physical activity:</strong>
Extraversion is a trait that keeps showing up here.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Previous studies examining correlates of <strong>leisure time physical activity</strong> (LTPA) (...)
  Higher standing on <strong>Activity</strong> and <strong>Discipline</strong> and lower standing on
  <strong>Assertiveness</strong> predicted greater odds of engaging in LTPA and longer
  duration of LTPA, and higher standing on <strong>Aesthetics</strong> predicted shorter
  duration of LTPA. "</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23025299" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23025299</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"<strong>Extraversion</strong> (r = 0.23), <strong>neuroticism</strong> (r = −0.11) and <strong>conscientiousness</strong> (r = 0.20) were identified as correlates of <strong>physical activity</strong>"</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2577457/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2577457/</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Evidence shows that aspects of personality are associated with participation in physical activity. We hypothesized that, among adolescents, <strong>behavioral activation (BAS)</strong> and behavioral inhibition (BIS) would be associated with physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness and percent body fat), <strong>enjoyment of exercise</strong>, tolerance of and persistence in high-intensity exercise, and affective response to an acute exercise bout.
  The BAS(reward) subscale was positively related to <strong>Enjoyment</strong> (r = .44, p &lt; .05).</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2761825/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2761825/</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Exercisers</strong> were on average less <strong>anxious</strong> (-0.18 SD), <strong>depressed</strong> (-0.29 SD) and <strong>neurotic</strong> (-0.14 SD), more <strong>extraverted</strong> (+0.32 SD) and were higher in dimensions of <strong>sensation seeking</strong> (from+0.25 SD to+0.47 SD) than non-exercisers. </p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16439008/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16439008/</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Results indicated <strong>emotional instability</strong> had direct effects on overall and <strong>strenuous leisure time exercise</strong> while also having significant (p &lt; 0.05) indirect mediation paths through the <strong>performance-approach</strong> and <strong>avoidance goals</strong>. The <strong>extraversion</strong> and emotional instability models accounted from 15.89% to 29.82% of variance in the various <strong>self-reported exercise</strong> measures.
  <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/k8bIQ.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
  <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254612000713" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254612000713</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-15T19:10:08.260Z
2015-07-15T19:32:35.610Z
2015-07-15T19:32:35.610Z
Berit Larsen
<p>Which scientific reports can tell me about Big5 scores correlating with a practical, physical preference? </p>

<p><strong>Examples</strong>:</p>

<p><strong>Traits</strong>: Practical, Realistic, Down-to-earth, Athletic, Handy, Prefers hands-on work, Problem solver, Focused on the real world</p>

<p><strong>Interests</strong>:  Animals, Construction, Driving, Electricity, Hearing, Manual labor, Mechanics, Outdoors, Physical activities, Problem solving, Safety, Seeing, Sensing, Sports, Tangible things, Tasting, Tools, Transportation</p>

<personality>
What Big5 facets correlate with practical sense?
Berit Larsen
# What Big5 facets correlate with practical sense?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-03)

Which scientific reports can tell me about Big5 scores correlating with a practical, physical preference?

**Examples**:

**Traits**: Practical, Realistic, Down-to-earth, Athletic, Handy, Prefers hands-on work, Problem solver, Focused on the real world

**Interests**: Animals, Construction, Driving, Electricity, Hearing, Manual labor, Mechanics, Outdoors, Physical activities, Problem solving, Safety, Seeing, Sensing, Sports, Tangible things, Tasting, Tools, Transportation

**Tags:** personality


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-13. Score: 4

As a starting point, you might be interested in studies that have related vocational preferences with personality. In particular, [Holland's model](http://www.careerkey.org/choose-a-career/holland-personality-types.html) of job preferences has been highly studied.

Practical sense sounds a little like the "realistic" dimension in Holland's framework.

Larson et al (2002) report a meta-analysis of the Big 5 and Holland's types.
Based on this meta-analysis, while there were correlations between the Big 5 and other types, there did not appear to be any strong (or even moderate) correlations between the realistic preference and the Big 5:

![big5 holland realistic correlations](https://i.sstatic.net/IG1iw.png)

Note. based on n > 5,000.

### References

Larson, L. M., Rottinghaus, P. J., & Borgen, F. H. (2002). Meta-analyses of Big Six interests and Big Five personality factors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(2), 217-239.


---

### Answer by username_0 on 2015-07-15. Score: 1

**Some claims on personality correlations to physical activity:**
Extraversion is a trait that keeps showing up here.

> "Previous studies examining correlates of **leisure time physical activity** (LTPA) (...)
> Higher standing on **Activity** and **Discipline** and lower standing on
> **Assertiveness** predicted greater odds of engaging in LTPA and longer
> duration of LTPA, and higher standing on **Aesthetics** predicted shorter
> duration of LTPA. "

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23025299>

> "**Extraversion** (r = 0.23), **neuroticism** (r = −0.11) and **conscientiousness** (r = 0.20) were identified as correlates of **physical activity**"

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2577457/>

> Evidence shows that aspects of personality are associated with participation in physical activity. We hypothesized that, among adolescents, **behavioral activation (BAS)** and behavioral inhibition (BIS) would be associated with physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness and percent body fat), **enjoyment of exercise**, tolerance of and persistence in high-intensity exercise, and affective response to an acute exercise bout.
> The BAS(reward) subscale was positively related to **Enjoyment** (r = .44, p < .05).

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2761825/>

> **Exercisers** were on average less **anxious** (-0.18 SD), **depressed** (-0.29 SD) and **neurotic** (-0.14 SD), more **extraverted** (+0.32 SD) and were higher in dimensions of **sensation seeking** (from+0.25 SD to+0.47 SD) than non-exercisers.

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16439008/>

> Results indicated **emotional instability** had direct effects on overall and **strenuous leisure time exercise** while also having significant (p < 0.05) indirect mediation paths through the **performance-approach** and **avoidance goals**. The **extraversion** and emotional instability models accounted from 15.89% to 29.82% of variance in the various **self-reported exercise** measures.
> ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/k8bIQ.jpg)
> <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254612000713>


---

