Big Five Analysis: Conscientiousness Essay

Guide to the Big Five Personality Trait Paper

Your psychology professor assigned a paper on a “Big Five” personality trait. You need to define one, explain its measurement, and analyze the pros and cons of the trait approach. This is a common, foundational assignment in any intro to psychology course. This is an analysis, not just a summary.

This guide provides an overview of the Big Five model, serving as the central resource for this topic. More importantly, it provides a full, entry-level college sample paper written in APA 7 style that perfectly answers the prompt. We then break down *why* that paper works, giving you the tools to write your own.

What Is the Big Five (Five-Factor) Model?

The Big Five, or Five-Factor Model (FFM), is the dominant, empirically-backed model of personality in modern psychology. It is not a “type” theory (like Myers-Briggs) that puts people in boxes. Instead, it describes personality as a set of continuous dimensions or spectrums. Every person has a score on each of the five traits.

The model is based on the lexical hypothesis—the idea that all important personality characteristics will eventually be encoded in our language. Researchers used factor analysis to group thousands of descriptive words (like “outgoing,” “organized,” “anxious”). The same five core factors emerged, known as OCEAN.

The “OCEAN” of Personality: Defining All Five Traits

To analyze one trait, you must understand the system. Here is a brief definition of all five factors.

O – Openness to Experience

This trait describes a person’s intellectual curiosity, creativity, and preference for novelty and variety. People high in openness are imaginative, unconventional, and appreciate art and adventure. People low in openness are more conventional, prefer routines, and tend to be more practical and data-driven.

C – Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness describes a person’s tendency to be organized, diligent, self-disciplined, and dependable. High scorers are planners, reliable, and goal-oriented. Low scorers tend to be more spontaneous, flexible, and sometimes disorganized or impulsive.

E – Extraversion

This trait describes a person’s sociability, assertiveness, and emotional expression. Extraverts draw energy from social interaction and are outgoing, talkative, and energetic. Introverts (who are low on the extraversion scale) draw energy from solitude and are more reserved, reflective, and thoughtful.

A – Agreeableness

This trait describes a person’s tendency to be compassionate, cooperative, and empathetic. High scorers are typically trusting, helpful, and value social harmony. Low scorers are often more competitive, skeptical, and willing to challenge others, which can be seen as antagonistic or analytical.

N – Neuroticism

This trait describes a person’s tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety, depression, and anger. High scorers are more emotionally reactive and vulnerable to stress. Low scorers (high in “emotional stability”) are typically calm, even-tempered, and emotionally resilient.

Sample APA Paper: Analysis of Conscientiousness

Here is an 800-word essay written by an entry-level college student in APA 7 style. It directly answers the prompt and uses three scholarly sources.

Expert Breakdown: Why This Sample Paper Works

It is an analysis that directly follows the prompt. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how it succeeds.

Step 1: The Introduction and Thesis (How to Start)

The introduction does three things:

1. It hooks the reader: It starts with the broad concept of “personality” and narrows it to the academic definition.
2. It defines the core concept: It introduces the Big Five model as a “very common framework.”
3. It provides a clear thesis: The last sentence mirrors the assignment’s prompts: “This paper will define… conscientiousness, explain how it is measured, and discuss the advantages and drawbacks…”

Step 2: Defining the Trait (Answering Prompt 1)

The first body paragraph tackles the first prompt: “Define and describe the personality trait.”

• Clear Definition: It starts with a simple definition: “Conscientiousness is the personality trait that describes how organized, diligent, and self-disciplined a person is.”
• Uses Key Terminology: It correctly uses the term “facets” and lists them (competence, order, etc.), citing the source (Costa & McCrae, 1992).
• Gives Concrete Examples: It contrasts high and low scorers: the student who finishes early vs. the procrastinator.

Step 3: Explaining Measurement (Answering Prompt 2)

The second body paragraph answers “How might this personality trait be measured?”

• Identifies the Method: It correctly identifies the primary method: the “self-report inventory.”
• Names the “Gold Standard”: It names the “Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R).”
• Explains the Mechanism: It explains *how* the test works by mentioning “Likert scale.”

Step 4: Analyzing Pros & Cons (Answering Prompt 3)

The next two paragraphs show critical thinking, answering “What are the advantages and drawbacks…?”

• The “Advantage” Paragraph: This section focuses on “predictive validity.” It uses a powerful, recent (2021) scholarly source (Wilmot & Ones) to link conscientiousness to real-world outcomes like job performance.
• The “Drawback” Paragraph: This section provides a balanced critique. It identifies “social desirability bias” as a key weakness. It also introduces the “reductionist” argument—that traits oversimplify people and ignore context.

Step 5: Formatting and Sources (The Final Polish)

The paper also adheres to academic standards.

• APA Style: The entire paper, including the reference list, is formatted in correct APA 7 style. If you need a refresher, see our APA Citation Guide.
• Scholarly Sources: It uses three high-quality sources as required by the prompt: a textbook (Goldberg, 2023) and two peer-reviewed journal articles (Wilmot & Ones, 2021; Hopwood & Bleidorn, 2019).

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Relying on Personal Opinion: Do not write “I think…” Your paper must be an objective analysis based on scholarly sources.
• Using “Type” Language: Do not say “a conscientious person.” Use “a person high in conscientiousness.” This is the correct “trait” terminology.
• Weak Sources: Do not cite Wikipedia or personal blogs. Stick to your textbook and peer-reviewed articles.
• Ignoring the “Drawbacks”: A top paper includes a balanced critique. Show you understand the model’s limitations.

How Our Psychology Experts Can Help

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