Improving the Measurement of the Big Five via Alternative Formats for the BFI-2.

Abstract

The Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2; Soto & John, 2017a) was developed to improve on the limitations of the original BFI by balancing the number of positively and negatively worded items and establishing a hierarchical structure for the Big Five traits. However, as the BFI-2 employs a Likert format with agree-disagree options, it suffers from common problems of the Likert format, including acquiescence bias and method effects due to the negatively worded items. In this research, we converted the BFI-2 into three alternative formats: Expanded, Item-Specific-Full, and Item-Specific-Light. These formats have tailored response options for each item and avoid the use of negatively worded items, thereby addressing the issues associated with the Likert format. Across two studies (N = 1,335 and N = 1,451), we randomly assigned Canadian undergraduate students to complete the BFI-2 in the original Likert format or one of the three alternative formats. Results showed that the Likert and alternative formats exhibit similar predictive validity. However, the alternative formats-particularly the Expanded format-showed better psychometric properties, including enhanced factor structure, increased reliability, and possibly reduced careless responding. We recommend that researchers consider adopting the BFI-2 in these alternative formats and adapting other Likert scales to these alternative formats.