IPIP-NEO-60 (Big Five, 60 items)
A 60-item public-domain representation of the NEO PI-R, validated via item response theory. Scores all five broad domains of the Five-Factor Model and resolves each into six narrower facets — 30 facets in all — in about ten minutes. Free.
Neuroticism
Anxiety · Anger · Depression · Self-Consciousness · Immoderation · Vulnerability
Extraversion
Friendliness · Gregariousness · Assertiveness · Activity Level · Excitement-Seeking · Cheerfulness
Openness
Imagination · Artistic Interests · Emotionality · Adventurousness · Intellect · Liberalism
Agreeableness
Trust · Morality · Altruism · Cooperation · Modesty · Sympathy
Conscientiousness
Self-Efficacy · Orderliness · Dutifulness · Achievement-Striving · Self-Discipline · Cautiousness
At a glance
The domain & facet model
The IPIP-NEO-60 is a 60-item IRT-optimized short form of the full 300-item NEO PI-R representation. Using item response theory, Maples-Keller et al. (2017) selected the two best-performing IPIP items for each of the 30 NEO facets — two items per facet, six facets per domain — keeping the complete facet structure while halving the length relative to the 120-item form. The result is a balanced instrument: fast enough for most research contexts while retaining the fine-grained domain → facet hierarchy that distinguishes NEO-based inventories from simple Big Five scales.
Neuroticism
Sensitivity to negative emotion and stress.
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Depression
- Self-Consciousness
- Immoderation
- Vulnerability
Extraversion
Energy, sociability, and positive engagement.
- Friendliness
- Gregariousness
- Assertiveness
- Activity Level
- Excitement-Seeking
- Cheerfulness
Openness to Experience
Curiosity, imagination, and aesthetic sensitivity.
- Imagination
- Artistic Interests
- Emotionality
- Adventurousness
- Intellect
- Liberalism
Agreeableness
Compassion, cooperation, and concern for others.
- Trust
- Morality
- Altruism
- Cooperation
- Modesty
- Sympathy
Conscientiousness
Organization, persistence, and goal-directed self-control.
- Self-Efficacy
- Orderliness
- Dutifulness
- Achievement-Striving
- Self-Discipline
- Cautiousness
Report includes
Five Big Five domain scores, each computed as the mean of its six 2-item facet scores, with a Higher / Average / Lower band relative to the full scale range. A 30-facet profile showing each facet score in context. Population percentile and 90% confidence range computed from the ESCS reference sample.
Maples-Keller, J. L., Williamson, R. L., Sleep, C. E., Carter, N. T., Campbell, W. K., & Miller, J. D. (2017). Using item response theory to develop a 60-item representation of the NEO-PI-R: The IPIP-NEO-60. Journal of Personality Assessment. Items drawn from the public-domain International Personality Item Pool (Goldberg et al., 2006; ipip.ori.org). Norms computed from the Eugene-Springfield Community Sample (ESCS) — Lewis R. Goldberg's adult community panel from Eugene and Springfield, Oregon (Harvard Dataverse, doi:10.7910/DVN/UF52WY). This is a community sample and is NOT nationally representative. The mean, standard deviation, reference N and Cronbach's α were computed directly from the raw IPIP item-level responses on THIS scale's exact item set and reverse-keying (complete cases); reference N varies by scale and is shown with each scale below. The confidence range uses the standard error of measurement (SEM = SD·√(1−α)) from that computed α.