Efficient and valid assessment of personality traits: population norms of a brief version of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI)
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1
McGill University, Canada
2
Medical Center of the University of Leipzig, Germany
3
Academy of Psychotherapy, Germany
4
University Medical Center Mainz, Germany
Submission date: 2014-10-29
Final revision date: 2014-12-10
Acceptance date: 2014-12-31
Publication date: 2015-03-23
Corresponding author
Annett Korner
McGill University, Canada, 3700, rue McTavish, H3A 1Y2 Montreal, Canada
Arch Psych Psych 2015;17(1):21-32
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ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
The NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), a well-established 60-item questionnaire based on the
Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality, provides a valuable framework for the interdisciplinary approach
to personality research and clinical practice. In response to the need for briefer personality measures, a
30-item version of the NEO-FFI (NEO-FFI-30) was developed and its factor structure replicated.
Subject or material and methods:
The study examines the psychometric quality of NEO-FFI-30 and provides population-based
norms (n=1908 adults). Reliability coefficients, kurtosis, skewness, correlations and effect sizes illustrate
the psychometric properties of the measure.
Results:
The relationships between neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness
and sociodemographic characteristics confirm previous research findings and speak to the validity
of the brief version. Namely, women report higher neuroticism and agreeableness. Younger individuals
indicate more extraversion but less agreeableness and conscientiousness. Finally, openness to experience
was related to higher education. Percentile ranks are provided for the total sample and for subgroups
by age and gender.
Discussion:
In sum, the 30-item-version of the NEO-FFI constitutes an assessment tool comparable to the full-length instrument regarding psychometric properties.
Conclusions:
In sum, the 30-item-version of the NEO-FFI constitutes an assessment tool comparable to the full-length instrument regarding psychometric properties. As such, the NEO-FFI-30 is a promising alternative to longer questionnaires, as well as to single-item measures of personality used in research and clinical practice.