Higher-order factors of the Big Five in a multi-informant sample.
Abstract
In a large community sample (N=490), the Big Five were not orthogonal when modeled as latent variables representing the shared variance of reports from 4 different informants. Additionally, the standard higher-order factor structure was present in latent space: Neuroticism (reversed), Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness formed one factor, labeled Stability, and Extraversion and Openness/Intellect formed a second factor, labeled Plasticity. Comparison of two instruments, the Big Five Inventory and the Mini-Markers, supported the hypotheses that single-adjective rating instruments are likely to yield lower interrater agreement than phrase rating instruments and that lower interrater agreement is associated with weaker correlations among the Big Five and a less coherent higher-order factor structure. In conclusion, an interpretation of the higher-order factors is discussed, including possible neurobiological substrates.
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The current results are reported at a more granular level than previous works due to advances in taxonomic knowledge of personality and cognitive ability.
“The current results are reported at a more granular level than previous works due to advances in taxonomic knowledge of personality and cognitive ability (43, 49, 52, 57–62).”
From Meta-analytic relations between personality and cognitive ability (2023) · cites this paper as [52]
Factor analyses of the Big Five have revealed two higher-order factors: one subsumes Extraversion and Openness, the other subsumes Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism.
“Factor analyses of the Big Five have revealed two higher-order factors (DeYoung, 2006;Digman, 1997).One subsumes E and O, the other subsumes A, C, and N.”
From Cultural norm fulfillment, interpersonal belonging, or getting ahead? A large-scale cross-cultural test of three perspectives on the function of self-esteem. (2015) · cites this paper as DeYoung, 2006
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- Authors
- DeYoung, C. G.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- DeYoung, Colin G.
- ORCID
- DeYoung, Colin G.
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1138-1151
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2075134121
- Cited by
- 933
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 60 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 55
- FWCI
- 19.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Keywords
- Big Five personality traits, higher-order factor structure, interobserver agreement, Big Five Inventory, neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, openness to experience, latent variable models
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Character, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Peer Group, Personality Assessment, Personality Inventory, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Statistics as Topic, Reproducibility of Results, Models, Statistical, Observer Variation
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