NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3

The NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3 (NEO FFI-3) is a self-report personality inventory  developed by Paul T. Costa, Jr., and Robert R. McCrae. This personality test provides a quick, reliable, and accurate measure of the five domains of personality. The five domains of personality are Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness, & Conscientiousness.

It measures the five broad domains of personality:

Five Dimensions of the NEO-FFI:

1. 1. Neuroticism (N): This dimension assesses emotional stability, including factors such as anxiety, depression, and vulnerability to stress.
   2. Extraversion (E): Extraversion measures the extent to which an individual is sociable, outgoing, and energetic as opposed to reserved and introverted.
   3. Openness to Experience (O): Openness reflects an individual’s receptiveness to new experiences, creativity, and intellectual curiosity.
   4. Agreeableness (A): Agreeableness assesses an individual’s level of compassion, cooperativeness, and trustworthiness as opposed to antagonism and competitiveness.
   5. Conscientiousness (C): Conscientiousness measures an individual’s organization, responsibility, and self-discipline in contrast to impulsivity and carelessness.

The NEO FFI-3 is a 60-item inventory that is typically completed in 10-15 minutes & 5 minutes for scoring. It is a reliable and valid measure of personality that has been used in research and practice for over 30 years.

Scoring and Interpretation of NEO FFI 3

• The NEO-FFI consists of a series of 60 items, statements or questions, each dimension has 6 facets and 12 items. .

• Table (a): Item Wise Distribution in NEO-FFI

  Dimension	Item No.
  Neuroticism	1*, 6, 11, 16*, 21, 26, 31*, 36, 41, 46*, 51, 56
  Extraversion	2, 7, 12*, 17, 22, 27*, 32, 37, 42*, 47, 52, 57*
  Openness	3*, 8*, 13, 18*, 23*, 28, 33, 38*, 43, 48*, 53, 58
  Agreeableness	4, 9*, 14*, 19, 24*, 29, 34, 39*, 44*, 49, 54*, 59*
  Conscientiousness	5, 10, 15*, 20, 25, 30*, 35, 40, 45*, 50, 55*, 60

  * Negative Statements

• Table (b): Perceived Responses in NEO-FFI

  Response	Numerical Value
  SD (Strongly Disagree)	0 (4 for negatively worded statements)
  D (Disagree)	1 (3 for negatively worded statements)
  N (Neutral)	2 (2 for both positively and negatively worded statements)
  A (Agree)	3 (1 for negatively worded statements)
  SA (Strongly Agree)	4 (0 for negatively worded statements)

• Respondents rate their agreement or disagreement with these statements on a Five point  Likert scale, i.e. Strongly Disagree (SD), Disagree (D), Neutral (N) , Agree (A) & Strongly Agree (SA) typically ranging from 0 to 4 , with higher values indicating stronger agreement with the statement.

• The NEO FFI-3 is scored by adding up the responses to the items for each personality domain. The raw scores are then converted to T scores, which are standardized scores that allow for comparisons to other people of the same age and gender.

• Age range 16 + years

• Interpretation

  The NEO FFI-3 T scores are interpreted as follows:

  • T scores below 35: Very low
  • T scores 35-49: Low
  • T scores 50-64: Average
  • T scores 65-79: High
  • T scores above 80: Very high

  It is important to note that the NEO FFI-3 is a self-report measure, and as such, it is susceptible to social desirability bias. This means that people may tend to answer the items in a way that they think will make them look good to others. Therefore, it is important to interpret the NEO FFI-3 scores with caution.

Description of each of the five personality domains measured by the NEO FFI-3:

1. Neuroticism: Neuroticism is a measure of emotional stability. People who score high on neuroticism are more likely to experience negative emotions such as anxiety, worry, and sadness. They are also more likely to be reactive and impulsive in their behavior. People who score low on neuroticism are more likely to be emotionally stable and calm. They cope well  with stress and adversity effectively.
2. Extraversion: Extraversion is a measure of outgoingness and sociability. People who score high on extraversion are more likely to enjoy being around other people and to seek out new experiences. They are also more likely to be assertive and talkative. People who score low on extraversion are more likely to be introverted and reserved. They may prefer to spend time alone or with a small group of close friends.
3. Openness to Experience: Openness to experience is a measure of intellectual curiosity and creativity. People who score high on openness to experience are more likely to be interested in new ideas and experiences. They are also more likely to be tolerant of ambiguity and uncertainty. People who score low on openness to experience are more  traditional and conventional. They prefer to stick to familiar routines and to avoid new situations.
4. Agreeableness: Agreeableness is a measure of trust and cooperation. People who score high on agreeableness are more likely to be trusting and helpful. They are  forgiving and to avoid conflict. People who score low on agreeableness are more likely to be cynical and suspicious. They may also be more likely to be assertive and competitive.
5. Conscientiousness: Conscientiousness is a measure of orderliness and responsibility. People who score high on conscientiousness are more likely to be organized and efficient. They are hardworking and reliable. People who score low on it, are more likely to be disorganized and impulsive. They may also be more likely to procrastinate and to avoid responsibility.

It is important to note that personality is a complex phenomenon and that the NEO FFI-3 is just one measure of personality. It is also important to remember that personality is not fixed and that it can change over time.