A Study Of The Psychometric Properties And The Standardization Of HEXACO Personality Inventory

Aim: The purpose of the study was two-fold: first, to compare the NEO-PI and HEXACO personality inventories and to determine the major dimensions of personality, and next, to explore for any sex differences on the personality dimensions. Method: Using a stratified random sampling procedure, 613 students (270 males and 343 females) out of a total of 12221 university students ranging in age from 18 to 25 years were recruited for the study. The short forms of the NEO-PI (60 items) and the HEXACO (100 items) were administered. The data obtained were analyzed using factor analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multivariate analyses of variance. Results: Findings revealed high reliability scores for all the subscales of both instruments. Significant positive correlations between the extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness scales of the two inventories were obtained (p<0.05). The emotionality and altruism subscales of the HEXACO correlated significantly with the neuroticism and agreeableness subscales of the NEO-PI, respectively (p<0.05). maximum likelihood analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalization confirmed a five factor solution: extroversion, conscientiousness, openness, emotional instability (neuroticism and emotionality), and agreeableness-altruism. An examination of gender differences revealed that women scored higher than men on conscientiousness, emotional instability and altruism (p<.05). Honesty failed to emerge as an independent factor and loaded on agreeableness-altruism and conscientiousness. Conclusions: The five dimensions of personality as measured by both the NEO-PI and the HEXACO is confirmed while the honesty-humility factor suggested by the HEXACO failed to emerge as an independent dimension and was found to merge with the dimensions of agreeableness and conscientiousness.