• Question: Do you think 'Big Five' personality classifications can be used as an accurate basis for research? Empirically or qualitatively?

    Asked by AB284 to Jack, Gem, Jermaine, Michelle, Steve on 15 Jun 2017.
    • Photo: Jermaine Ravalier

      Jermaine Ravalier answered on 15 Jun 2017:

      I both teach and research the Big 5, so happy to answer this one.
      It’s probably the most widely used theory of personality (although that doesn’t make it great…). But it’s a theory which has been shown to be culturally sensitive and relatively accurate, although there’s a lot of questions as to what the 5 traits actually are…

    • Photo: Steven Brown

      Steven Brown answered on 16 Jun 2017:

      The so-called ‘big five’ is the leading model, but I have used a six-item version which is closely modelled on it. Personality maps onto music preferences very accurately using the big five ie if you know what music someone likes, you can accurately guess what they are like as a person.

    • Photo: Michelle Jamieson

      Michelle Jamieson answered on 18 Jun 2017:

      It’s a classic and leading model, and used in lots of places, but it’s never done well in my research (qualitative).

Comments