Registered Report: Test–Retest Effect on Big Five Personality Traits: Using Between- and Within-Participants Designs

Abstract

This study examined whether the Big Five personality traits, measured one week apart, exhibited test–retest effects (i.e., a shift in self-reported scores in a socially desirable direction). Unlike previous studies that used within-participant designs, we employed a between-participant design to distinguish test-retest effects from period effects. A total of 1,823 Japanese participants were randomly assigned to either a “twice” condition (n=893) or a “once” condition (n=930). Within the “twice” condition, we also compared scores between T1 and T2. Results indicated no test–retest effects for any personality trait in either between- or within-participant comparisons.