Validating the NEO Personality Inventory using assessorʹs ratings

The five factors and the sub-scales of the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) were correlated with assessments of 10 dimensions of management capability of managers (N = 160) taking part in personal profiling exercise. Ten consultants used the data from two in-depth interviews and a battery of personality and ability tests to rate each individual manager. A clear pattern emerged with conscientiousness and extraversion having strongest and most frequent correlations with the ratings and agreeableness least. The personality factors correlated strongly and consistently with some ratings (e.g. drive to achieve, intuition, resilience) but less clearly with others (e.g. conceptual ability, interest in business). Overall the results provide good concurrent validity evidence for the NEO-PI. Results are discussed in terms of other research in the area.