The Five-Factor Model - A Tool for Studying Personality
The five-factor model is a tool used for dimensionally studying personality. Aspects of the model considered include the specific variables in the model, other related models, and clinical applications of the model. The quality of the model is evaluated based on five criteria that comprise compatibility, originality, universality, taxonomy, and application. Ultimately, it is evident that the model fits most of the criteria for greatness. The five criteria model is also referred to as the “Big 5” (Barnett et al., 2015).
Promising Practicality and Applicability
It is among the newest models developed for the description of personality and the model shows promise to be among the models practical and applicable in the field of personality psychology. Therefore, it is indeed a great theory.
A Great Theory Confirmed
This is a theory and not a law or model since it does not contradict already established theories. It is applicable and taxonomic, predicts experimental results, and is consistent and useful in clinic. A great theory has originality and needs to be universal just like the five-factor personality theory. Therefore, it confirms the hypothesis that the 5-factor model was a great theory though it is not integrative.
Functional and Practical
The theory is functional and practical because it is proved that it is useful in fields like clinic. It is also practical and applicable in personality psychology (Gurven et al., 2013). This theory is qualitatively classified but not quantitative because its quality has been tested and evaluated based on those five criteria.
A Descriptive Theory
The five-factor model personality theory is also descriptive since it describes how the five factors work in personality. This theory is used as a test to confirm the hypothesis that the 5-factor model was a great theory.
References
Barnett, T., Pearson, A. W., Pearson, R., " Kellermanns, F. W. (2015). Five-factor model personality traits as predictors of perceived and actual usage of technology. European Journal of Information Systems, 24(4), 374-390.
Gurven, M., Von Rueden, C., Massenkoff, M., Kaplan, H., " Lero Vie, M. (2013). How universal is the Big Five? Testing the five-factor model of personality variation among forager–farmers in the Bolivian Amazon. Journal of personality and social psychology, 104(2), 354.
