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Improving the reliability and validity of data on Big Five personality traits in developing countries

Author

Listed:
  • An Huang
  • Paulo Santos

Abstract

Recent research argues that personality data collected in developing countries may fail to measure the intended personality traits. We quantify the importance of three potential drivers of such failure (acquiescence response, social desirability response, and enumerator effects) in terms of their influence on psychometric properties and the predictive power of data on the Big Five personality traits. Our results suggest that both the reliability and validity of survey data on the Big Five can be improved by correcting for acquiescence bias, and that the performance of this correction can be greatly increased through the use of balanced personality inventories. Correcting for social desirability response and enumerator effects matters when estimating the effect of personality traits on economic outcomes (but not when capturing personality structure).

Suggested Citation

  • An Huang & Paulo Santos, 2022. "Improving the reliability and validity of data on Big Five personality traits in developing countries," Monash Economics Working Papers 2022-04, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2022-04
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • B49 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Other
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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