C. Viswesvaran et Ds. Ones, Measurement error in "big five factors" personality assessment: Reliability generalization across studies and measures, EDUC PSYC M, 60(2), 2000, pp. 224-235
Meta-analysis was used to cumulate reliabilities of personality scale score
s. A total of 848 coefficients of stability and 1,359 internal consistency
reliabilities across the Big Five factors of personality were examined. The
frequency-weighted mean coefficients of stability were .75(SD=.10, K=221),
.76(SD=.12, K=176), .71(SD=.13, K=139), .69(SD=.14, K=119), and .72(SD=.13
, K=193) for Emotional Stability, Extraversion, Openness to Experience, Agr
eeableness, and Conscientiousness, respectively. The corresponding internal
consistency reliabilities were .78 (SD=.11, K=370), .78(SD=.09, K=307), .7
3(SD=.12, K=251), .75(SD=.11, K=123), and .78(SD=.10, K=307). Sample-size-w
eighted means also were computed. The dimension of personality being rated
does not appear to strongly moderate either the internal consistency or the
test-retest reliabilities. Implications for personality assessment are dis
cussed.