Will the Big Five Personality Factor Stand-up: An Analysis of NEO Personality Inventory-Revised

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the factorial invariance of a major instrument i.e., NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised-Form S (NEO PI-R)1, tapping broad five factor of personality such as: neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experiences, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. It also aimed to study the replication of broad five factors in Indian population. To achieve these objectives, the NEO PI-R was administered on a sample of 375 subjects (age range from 18 yrs to 22 yrs) randomly selected from various academic institutes in Indian. The statistical analysis such as descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and factor analysis were performed on collected data. The higher mean score on neuroticism in present data indicates a cultural variation across the country. Reliability analysis was confirmed test-retest reliability ranging from 0.70 to 0.78 (n = 108, gap of over 60 days) and strikingly high internal consistency ranging from 0.98 to 0.99 for the big five factor in India. Bivariate correlation analyses demonstrate positive significant correlations among the facets scale of NEO-PI-R and their corresponding factor except few correlations. The significant correlations among the five factors question their independence in the measurement of personality structure. In factor analysis, the three personality dimension such as conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness were clearly replicates and the other two factors such as extraversion and openness to experience were partially replicate to define the personality structure in Indian population. These findings are in line with existing literature and have strong implications to define the personality structure in Indian population