HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENET

The “Big Five”

Big Five Development & History

Big Five has many fathers - among others: Sir Francis Galton, Gordon Allport, H. S. Odbert,
Raymond Cattell, Ernest Tupes, Raymond Christal, Walter Mischel, Lewis Goldberg.
The Big Five personality test was originally developed back in the 1970’s by two independent
personality research teams - headed by Paul Costa and Robert McCrae (at the National
Institutes of Health), and Warren Norman (at the University of Michigan)/Lewis Goldberg (at
the University of Oregon).
The two teams had slightly different approaches to the study of personality traits but ended up
at the same results: most personality traits can be reduced to five dimensions.
The five dimensions of personality were established based upon asking thousands of people
hundreds of questions and analyzing the answers with a statistical method known as factor
analysis. The five dimensions emerged from their analyses of the personality data.
Big Five refers to five broad personality traits that were developed through Lexical analysis.
Psychologists have the last century analyzed several thousands of people asking them hundreds
of questions. The results led to the formation of five general personality traits: Openness,
Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN) but in popular terms
the Big Five.

Critique of the Big Five

Critics argue that there are limitations to the construct of the Big Five as an explanatory or
predictive tool. It is argued that the Big Five does not explain all of human personality.
Another frequent criticism is that the Big Five is not theory-driven. It is merely a data-driven
investigation of certain descriptors that tend to cluster together under factor analysis.
The big five model is itself interrelated. The five factors are not independent. Positive and
negative correlations exist between the factors that form the model. There are people who say
that the model does not suffice for further analysis of persons according to psychology.
However, the big five model does give you a good overall introduction about your personality.
Despite the critiques the Big Five remains on of the very popular personality tests.

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Big Five Personality Score

Studies suggest that that the distributed average score of people on the Big Five traits is as the
following:

•    Openness: 57%

•    Extraversion: 54%
•    Conscientiousness: 49%
•    Neuroticism: 48%
•    Agreeableness: 42%

1) Openness to Experience
– The disposition (nature) to be imaginative, nonconforming (out of ordinary),
unconventional (exceptional), and autonomous (self directed).

 Openness to experience

1. Fantasy
2. Aesthetics
3. Feelings
4. Actions
5. Ideas
6. Values

 You love adventures and trying new things; you're insightful and imaginative.
Creativity adds spice to your life, and you're not afraid to take risks. People
with this Big Five Personality Trait are often risk takers.

Openness is a general appreciation for art, unusual ideas, curiosity, and imagination. This trait
distinguishes people who are more imaginative from those who are down-to-earth. People who
are more open tend to be more creative, more likely to be open to new and different ideas, and
more in-touch with his/her feelings. 
People who score lower in openness to experience tend to be more closed-off. They are
generally more analytical and resistant to change. They see imagination and art as things that
are a waste of time. 
So how would this apply to a learning environment? A child who has a more active imagination
will be more likely to create stories, be better readers, and develop better writing skills.
Curiosity breeds good questions which cause a search for answers and when people a looking
for answers, not just going through the motions, they are more likely to retain the information. 
People who score lower on the openness to experience scale are more likely to be concerned
with grades. They are more likely to just work hard for the sake of hard work. 

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2) Conscientiousness
– Is comprised of two related facets: achievement and dependability.

 Conscientiousness:

1. Competence
2. Order
3. Dutifulness
4. Achievement Striving
5. Self-Discipline
6. Deliberation

 You're organized and disciplined, dedicated and loyal – especially at work.

Excellent performances and strong commitments are standard. Of all the Big
Five Personality Traits, this one will take you far in your career.

Conscientiousness is a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement.
This trait shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. Conscientious
individuals achieve high levels of success through purposeful planning and persistence. They are
also regarded by others as responsible and reliable. They can become compulsive perfectionists
and workaholics. 
In a learning environment the benefits of being conscientious are clear. A person who is more
conscientious and plans his/her work and practices self-discipline will be more likely to succeed.
Those people are focused and aware of the work that needs to get done and do it in a timely
and efficient manner. Teachers would generally describe conscientious students as the
responsible students.

3) Extraversion
– The tendency to be sociable, assertive (self confidant), active, and to experience
positive effects, such as energy and zeal (enthusiasm).

 Extraversion

1. Warmth
2. Gregariousness
3. Assertiveness
4. Activity
5. Excitement Seeking
6. Positive Emotion

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 You're assertive, talkative, and don't mind being the centre of attention (in
fact, you prefer it!). Being alone isn't your favorite activity; in fact, the more
the merrier. This Big Five Personality Trait is found in extroverts all over the
world!
 Are your Big Five Personality Traits workings for or against you? If your
personality traits hold you back, damage your relationships, interfere with
your work, or cause pain, then you may be ripe for a to make some personality
changes!

Extraversion is the tendency to seek out the company and stimulation of others. The trait is
marked by pronounced engagement with the external world. They tend to be enthusiastic,
action-oriented people, who love excitement. In groups they like to talk and draw attention to
themselves.
Introverts lack the exuberance, energy, and activity level of extraverts. The tend to be quiet and
low-key and not very involved in the social world. Introverts shouldn't be confused with
depression or shyness; they simply lack the need for external stimulation that extraverts crave. 
In a learning environment, either extreme is generally considered negative, however usually
people get more concerned when their child doesn't want to play with other kids. There is
nothing wrong with not needing lots of time with other people but it is important to not let a
child isolate. In school it is important that the pressures that come along with social lives don't
get in the way with learning. 

4) Agreeableness
– The tendency to be trusting, compliant (obedient), caring, and gentle.

 Agreeableness

1. Trust
2. Straightforwardness
3. Altruism
4. Compliance
5. Modesty
6. Tender mindedness

 You're friendly, pleasant and easy to be around; your relationships are mostly
strong. You're a social creature, and get your energy from being around other
people. This Big Five Personality Trait opens many doors!

Agreeableness is the tendency to be compassionate and cooperative with others. The trait
reflects individual differences for social harmony. Agreeable individuals, as the name suggests,
generally get along with others. They generally have an optimistic view of human nature. 
Disagreeable individuals place self-interest above all else. They are not very concerned with
others' well-being, and are less likely to extend themselves to others. They tend to be skeptical

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of people's motives and of human nature which can make them suspicious, unfriendly, and
uncooperative. 
In the learning environment it is much more helpful to have agreeable people. Cooperation is
one of the most important things kids learn in early childhood and so more agreeable children
make for a better adjusted classroom. Also, if you have a classroom full of disagreeable people
it will cause too much turmoil for learning to take place.

5) Neuroticism
– The tendency to exhibit poor emotional adjustment and experience negative effects,
such as anxiety, insecurity, and hostility.

 Neuroticism

1. Anxiety
2. Hostility
3. Depression
4. Self-Consciousness
5. Impulsiveness
6. Vulnerability to Stress

 You feel anxiety, and you worry often. Your anxiety can make you
emotionally unstable, and you're more likely to struggle with depression and
sadness. This Big Five Personality Trait can lead to physical ill health.

Neuroticism is the tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anger, depression, or

anxiety. Those who score high in neuroticism are highly reactive in stressful situations. They are
more likely to interpret ordinary situations as threatening or minor situations as too difficult or
as impossible. 
In a learning environment those highly neurotic people have a harder time adjusting to stressful
situations. When presented with a difficult situation or a problem that they don't know how to
figure out, they just break down rather than being able to handle the situation. They also get
angry easily and don't know what they are angry at, themselves, the homework, the teacher,
etc.