<p><strong>How many personality factors are there?</strong>
The history of personality testing can be summarised in terms of an initial period where there was a vast number of personality traits. In response to this, there have been various attempts to synthesise these traits into a smaller number of underlying factors. There is a huge literature on this process (e.g., Digman, 1990; McCrae &amp; John, 1992). </p>

<p>There are a lot of researchers who have proposed variations on the five factor model (commonly labeled OCEAN: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion agreeableness, and neuroticism). That said, you will find a range of other factorial models (e.g., Eysenk's three factor model; the <a href="http://hexaco.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">HEXACO</a> six factor model).</p>

<p>There has also been subsequent challenges to the resulting dominance of factorial models.
For example, see the research of Sampo Paunonen (e.g., Paunonen &amp; Ashton, 2001) which suggests that we may have gone too far in embracing the factorial models of personality. </p>

<p>Related to this debate, there are a range of hiearchical theories of personality where facets are nested within factors. So you can either get a very general representation of personality with say 5 factors, and a more detailed representation with say 30 facets.</p>

<p><strong>What are valid measures of these factors?</strong>
There are a large number of well validated personality tests.
Tests are typically built around particular representations of personality.
There are a range of <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3335/what-free-scientific-measures-of-big-5-personality-are-available">free measures of the Big 5 listed here</a> with some discussion around validity.</p>

<p>The NEO is one of the most well-known and used commercial measures of the Big 5. That said, there are a wide range of well validated commercial personality tests available.</p>

<h3>References</h3>

<ul>
<li>Digman, J. M. (1990). Personality structure: Emergence of the five-factor model. Annual review of psychology, 41(1), 417-440.</li>
<li>McCrae, R. R., &amp; John, O. P. (1992). An introduction to the five‐factor model and its applications. Journal of personality, 60(2), 175-215.</li>
<li>Paunonen, S. V., &amp; Ashton, M. C. (2001). Big five factors and facets and the prediction of behavior. Journal of personality and social psychology, 81(3), 524.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T12:17:00.823Z
Is it "bad" to open a question asking how NEO relates to MBTI?
Revious
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T13:29:56.407Z
Have you seen this answer? http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1546/is-there-any-personality-theory-that-uses-scientific-methodology-instead-of-subj
Revious
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-27T01:48:02.827Z
2014-03-27T01:48:02.827Z
2017-04-13T12:56:16.467Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>I'm lacking of an academic background. I thought there were only 4 or 16 personality traits. But a fast search on google is showing a huge number: according to this <a href="http://ideonomy.mit.edu/essays/traits.html" rel="nofollow">link</a> they should be 638.</p>

<p>Is this information correct? </p>

<p>Which are the most accredited tests for measuring personality traits?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-27T01:32:02.117Z
I think this is an OK question! I even had a similar exam question as a student for my personality psychology course: "Why big 5 instead of big 3 or small 16?" (i.e. Costa&McCrae vs. Eysenck vs. Spearman).
Ana
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-09T12:12:57.657Z
@Ana: thanks, if you like it I would appreciate a +1!
Revious
<personality><test>
Which are the most accredited tests for measuring personality traits?
Revious
# Which are the most accredited tests for measuring personality traits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-26)

I'm lacking of an academic background. I thought there were only 4 or 16 personality traits. But a fast search on google is showing a huge number: according to this [link](http://ideonomy.mit.edu/essays/traits.html) they should be 638.

Is this information correct?

Which are the most accredited tests for measuring personality traits?

**Tags:** personality, test

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think this is an OK question! I even had a similar exam question as a student for my personality psychology course: "Why big 5 instead of big 3 or small 16?" (i.e. Costa&McCrae vs. Eysenck vs. Spearman).  
> **username_0**: @username_1: thanks, if you like it I would appreciate a +1!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-27. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

**How many personality factors are there?**
The history of personality testing can be summarised in terms of an initial period where there was a vast number of personality traits. In response to this, there have been various attempts to synthesise these traits into a smaller number of underlying factors. There is a huge literature on this process (e.g., Digman, 1990; McCrae & John, 1992).

There are a lot of researchers who have proposed variations on the five factor model (commonly labeled OCEAN: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion agreeableness, and neuroticism). That said, you will find a range of other factorial models (e.g., Eysenk's three factor model; the [HEXACO](http://hexaco.org/) six factor model).

There has also been subsequent challenges to the resulting dominance of factorial models.
For example, see the research of Sampo Paunonen (e.g., Paunonen & Ashton, 2001) which suggests that we may have gone too far in embracing the factorial models of personality.

Related to this debate, there are a range of hiearchical theories of personality where facets are nested within factors. So you can either get a very general representation of personality with say 5 factors, and a more detailed representation with say 30 facets.

**What are valid measures of these factors?**
There are a large number of well validated personality tests.
Tests are typically built around particular representations of personality.
There are a range of [free measures of the Big 5 listed here](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3335/what-free-scientific-measures-of-big-5-personality-are-available) with some discussion around validity.

The NEO is one of the most well-known and used commercial measures of the Big 5. That said, there are a wide range of well validated commercial personality tests available.

### References

* Digman, J. M. (1990). Personality structure: Emergence of the five-factor model. Annual review of psychology, 41(1), 417-440.
* McCrae, R. R., & John, O. P. (1992). An introduction to the five‐factor model and its applications. Journal of personality, 60(2), 175-215.
* Paunonen, S. V., & Ashton, M. C. (2001). Big five factors and facets and the prediction of behavior. Journal of personality and social psychology, 81(3), 524.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Is it "bad" to open a question asking how NEO relates to MBTI?  
> **username_0**: Have you seen this answer? http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/1546/is-there-any-personality-theory-that-uses-scientific-methodology-instead-of-subj  

---

