big-fivebfi-2raschfacets

BFI-2 at facet resolution through Rasch analysis (BFI-2-R)

Rasch validation of the Big Five Inventory-2’s 15 facets in 5,362 Italian adults — facet scores can satisfy fundamental measurement properties.

Citation

Burro, Bianchi & Raccanello (2025). Current Psychology — DOI 10.1007/s12144-025-07584-7

6 min · Updated 2026-08-25

Educational context only, not a diagnosis or clinical assessment. Product-authored items are labeled where validated instruments do not apply.

§ 01 — Findings

What the study found

Five CFAs supported the three-facet-per-trait structure; scalar invariance held across sex.
Per-facet Rasch assumptions checked: monotonicity, local independence (residual r < 0.20), unidimensionality (first contrast eigenvalue < 2.0), and DIF (standardized P-DIF within ±0.10).
Data fit the Rasch model per facet. Facet-level PSR was modest for some facets; trait-level reliability remained good.
Convergent validity of Rasch trait scores against BFI-10 was strong (r .56–.71; emotional stability vs. negative emotionality r = -.77).

§ 02 — Encoding

Justifies our facet-namespaced routing — facets are psychometrically distinct enough to target separately.
Warns us to surface trait-level confidence as the primary signal; facet stability is diagnostic, not decisive.
Supports keeping extended items facet-tagged even when presented as trait items.