Validity of Observer Ratings of the Five-Factor Model of Personality Traits: A Meta-Analysis

Journal of Applied Psychology 2011, Vol. 96, No. 4, 762-773

12 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2014

See all articles by In‐Sue Oh

In‐Sue Oh

Temple University - Department of Human Resource Management

Wang Gang

University of Iowa

Michael Mount

University of Iowa - Department of Management & Organizations

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Conclusions reached in previous research about the magnitude and nature of personality-performance linkages have been based almost exclusively on self-report measures of personality. The purpose of this study is to address this void in the literature by conducting a meta-analysis of the relationship between observer ratings of the five-factor model (FFM) personality traits and overall job performance. Our results show that the operational validities of FFM traits based on observer ratings are higher than those based on self-report ratings. In addition, the results show that when based on observer ratings, all FFM traits are significant predictors of overall performance. Further, observer ratings of FFM traits show meaningful incremental validity over self-reports of corresponding FFM traits in predicting overall performance, but the reverse is not true. We conclude that the validity of FFM traits in predicting overall performance is higher than previously believed, and our results underscore the importance of disentangling the validity of personality traits from the method of measurement of the traits.

Keywords: personality, five-factor model, observer ratings, job performance, selection

Suggested Citation

Oh, In-Sue and Gang, Wang and Mount, Michael, Validity of Observer Ratings of the Five-Factor Model of Personality Traits: A Meta-Analysis (2010). Journal of Applied Psychology 2011, Vol. 96, No. 4, 762-773, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2401138

In-Sue Oh (Contact Author)

Temple University - Department of Human Resource Management ( email )

1801 Liacouras Walk
Alter Hall 343
Philadelphia, PA 19122
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.fox.temple.edu/mcm_people/in-sue-oh/

Wang Gang

University of Iowa ( email )

341 Schaeffer Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1097
United States

Michael Mount

University of Iowa - Department of Management & Organizations ( email )

IA
United States

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