Correlations between a general factor of personality and employment measures

Abstract

How a general factor of personality (GFP), compared to lower-order personality factors, correlated with some employment screening measures was examined. A GFP was extracted based on responses to a measure of the Big Five personality factors in a sample of 382 applicants for the position of nuclear power plant security officer. Participants also completed a measure of intelligence, two employment screening test batteries, and three validity scales (including: lie, correction, and superlative self-presentation). The correlations between personality and measured intelligence were non-significant. Small correlations were found with some of the work behavior measures and the GFP, and for many, slightly larger correlations were found with the lower-order personality factors. Significant correlations were also found with the GFP, neuroticism, agreeableness, and conscientiousness with the validity scales.