Improving the Measurement of the Big Five via Alternative Formats for the BFI-2

The Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2; Soto & John, 2017a) was developed to improve on the limitations of the original BFI by balancing the number of positively and negatively worded items and establishing a hierarchical structure for the Big Five traits. However, as the BFI-2 employs a Likert format with agree–disagree options, it suffers from common problems of the Likert format, including acquiescence bias and method effects due to the negatively worded items. In this research, we converted the BFI-2 into three alternative formats: Expanded, Item-Specific-Full, and Item-Specific-Light. These formats have tailored response options for each item and avoid the use of negatively worded items, thereby addressing the issues associated with the Likert format. Across two studies (N = 1,335 and N = 1,451), we randomly assigned Canadian undergraduate students to complete the BFI-2 in the original Likert format or one of the three alternative formats. Results showed that the Likert and alternative formats exhibit similar predictive validity. However, the alternative formats—particularly the Expanded format—showed better psychometric properties, including enhanced factor structure, increased reliability, and possibly reduced careless responding. We recommend that researchers consider adopting the BFI-2 in these alternative formats and adapting other Likert scales to these alternative formats.