Reliability and Concurrent Validity of the International Personality item Pool (IPIP) Big-five Factor Markers in Nigeria

Background : The five-factor model (FFM) of personality is currently the most adopted model of personality assessment globally. This model has several versions and has been translated in to several languages. It has been used in several parts of the world but hardly or not at all in Nigeria. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the internal consistency and concurrent validity of the IPIP in a Nigerian sample. Methods : The 100 items International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) by Goldberg and the Eyesenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was administered to 50 adults in Kano. Their responses were coded and analysed using SPSS version 16 by determing their Cronbach alphas for the internal consistency and Pearson correlation for the concurrent validity.  Significance was set at <0.05 and at two tails. Results: The mean Cronbach alphas for the IPIP and EPQ were 0.602 and 0.653 respectively. The concurrent validity of IPIP extraversion and with EPQ extraversion was 0.344 and significant (p=0.014). That of the IPIP emotional stability and EPQ neuroticism domain was also significant (r=0.412, p=0.004). The EPQ psychoticism domain correlated negatively and significantly with the IPIP agreeableness (r=-0.282; p=0.047) and conscientiousness (r=-0.012; p=0.935). Conclusion : The researchers concluded that the 100 item-IPIP is a valid personality assessment instrument in Nigerians. Key words: Five factor model; 100-item IPIP validation in Nigerians ; 90-item EPQ; personality assessment