Title: A cross-validation of between country differences in personality using the OPQ32

Authors: Dave Bartram

Addresses: SHL Group Ltd., The Pavilion, 1 Atwell Place, Thames Ditton, Surrey, KT7 0NE, UK

Abstract: Between-country differences in personality for both the OPQ32 primary scales and OPQ32 Big Five scales are examined for two large datasets. The first consists of over one million cases from OPQ32i (ipsative primary scales scores) and covers 31 countries. The second consists of both normative and ipsative scale scores from OPQ32r for over 110,000 cases covering 39 countries. Multi-level examination of the total scale score variances shows that between 3% and 15% can be attributed to between-country effects. Using a double cross-validation design, the between country variations in country-level scale means and SDs are shown to be systematically and substantially related to variation in independent external country-level measures, including Hofstede's cultural dimensions and country economic and social performance indicators. The results from the OPQ32r data replicate and extend those reported earlier for the OPQ32i-based Big Five measures (Bartram, 2013).

Keywords: personality; cross-cultural differences; country differences; OPQ32; cultural dimensions; economic indicators; social performance indicators; individual scale scores; aggregated scale scores; personality scale scores; international norms; employment assessment; global assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQRE.2013.056460

International Journal of Quantitative Research in Education, 2013 Vol.1 No.2, pp.182 - 211

Received: 11 Apr 2013
Accepted: 18 Apr 2013
Published online: 29 Apr 2014 *

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