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Psychometric Evaluation of the Big Five Questionnaire for Children (BFQ-C): A Rasch Model Approach

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Abstract

The Big Five Questionnaire for Children, (BFQ-C) is an instrument for personality assessment in children and adolescents widely used worldwide. The aim of this work was to study the psychometric properties of the instrument scores from the item response theory (IRT) perspective. We worked with a Partial Credit Rasch Model to analyze an Argentinean sample to validate the scale for its use in this population. We opted for an instrumental design, and for each factor we applied an item calibration plan consisting of different analysis: unidimensionality, classification of response categories, fit levels of items and persons, specific objectivity, and differential item functioning as regards sex. We worked with a sample of 1162 high school students aged 12–17 years. The five original subscales did not show satisfactory fit, so modifications were made to improve their properties. As a result, we could demonstrate that each subscale measures a single latent trait, meets the invariance assumption regarding the sample and the assumption of local independence, showing no sex differential item functioning (DIF). Finally, the ordinal scores were converted to an interval scale, which allows more accurate analysis and better confidence in outcomes. Our results showed that the five subscales corresponding to each factor were in line with the IRT key parameters, although we suggest further studies on both the test capacity to assess extreme scores and the relevance of using a five-response category scoring.

Highlights

  • The items of BFQ-C have adequate psychometric properties based on Rasch model.

  • The items do not show differential functioning in terms of sex.

  • The BFQ-C allows to measure the Big Five personality factors in Argentinean population.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council—Argentina (CONICET for its acronym in Spanish).

Author Contributions

M.C. designed and executed the study, and contributed in writing all parts of the manuscript. V.E.M. analyzed the data and wrote and edited all parts of the manuscript. F.B.G. collaborated in the data collection, assisted with the data analyses and the writing and editing of the final manuscript. A.E.A. and S.J.G. collaborated with data collection and writing the literature review and discussion.

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  1. Psychological Research Institute (IIPsi) CONICET-UNC, Psychology Department, National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina

    Marcos Cupani, Valeria E. Morán, Fernanda B. Ghío, Ana E. Azpilicueta & Sebastián J. Garrido

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  1. Marcos Cupani
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  2. Valeria E. Morán
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  3. Fernanda B. Ghío
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  4. Ana E. Azpilicueta
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Correspondence to Marcos Cupani.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964) and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The National University of Cordoba provided IRB approval for this study.

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Cupani, M., Morán, V.E., Ghío, F.B. et al. Psychometric Evaluation of the Big Five Questionnaire for Children (BFQ-C): A Rasch Model Approach. J Child Fam Stud 29, 2472–2486 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01752-y

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