Examining the Lower‐Order Structure of Openness/Intellect Using Traditional and Extended Bass‐Ackwards Methods

Objective In this study, the lower‐order structure of Openness/Intellect is explored using Goldberg's “bass‐ackward” hierarchical factor analysis approach, including Forbes' extension to this method. Background Research utilizing the Big Five has tended to focus on higher‐order domains, as opposed to lower‐order facets. As a result, the lower‐order structure of the Big Five is less well understood. This problem is especially pronounced for Openness/Intellect, which has a complex structure, encompassing a broad range of tendencies, from seeking out new experiences to absorption in intellectual pursuits, to being socially tolerant and progressive. Method Participants across three samples ( N = 383, N = 712, and N = 372) completed various Openness/Intellect scales, and responses were factor analyzed using both traditional and extended bass‐ackward approaches. Results All models showed a clear split of the broader Openness/Intellect domain into Intellect and Openness, mirroring the aspect‐level distinction found in previous research. Whereas Intellect appeared to be quite narrow, with a limited set of lower‐order components extracted, Openness unfolded into a more diffuse set of lower‐order components. Conclusion The present findings converge with several previous perspectives on, yet also provide a more nuanced understanding of, the hierarchical structure of Openness/Intellect.