BFI

Big Five Inventory

Anxiety & relatedSelf-reportAges 10+44 statements~9 min

Validated by John & Srivastava (1999)

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jaye Turrietta, PsyD, BCBA-D, AEP

A 44-item personality inventory measuring five broad dimensions (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness).

For each statement, select how well it describes you. This is a personality profile rather than a pass/fail screener.

44 statements · ~9 min · Auto-saved

About the Big Five Inventory

The Big Five model (also called OCEAN) is the most widely accepted framework in personality psychology. This 44-item version was developed by John, Donahue, and Kentle (1991). Unlike autism screening tools, the BFI does not produce a pass/fail result — it profiles your personality across five independent dimensions with autistic and neurotypical reference averages for context.

44 items on a 5-point scale. Suitable for ages 10+. Takes 5–10 minutes.

Autism & personality

Research consistently shows autistic individuals differ from neurotypical averages on certain traits:

Extraversion tends to be lower, reflecting preference for less social stimulation
Neuroticism tends to be higher, reflecting greater emotional sensitivity and anxiety
Conscientiousness may be slightly lower, sometimes linked to executive function differences
Agreeableness and Openness tend to be similar or slightly different between groups

Important: The BFI is a personality measure, not a diagnostic instrument for autism. Reference scores are drawn from research literature and are provided for context only. Individual personality profiles vary widely within both autistic and neurotypical groups.

John, O. P., Donahue, E. M., & Kentle, R. L. (1991). The Big Five Inventory — Versions 4a and 54. University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Personality and Social Research.

BFI FAQs

The most common questions about the BFI (Big Five Inventory).

What is the BFI?

The BFI (Big Five Inventory) is a 44-item statement self-report screener for Big Five personality dimensions. A 44-item personality profile across the Big Five dimensions — Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. It was developed by John & Srivastava (1999).

Who can take the BFI?

The BFI is designed for adolescents and adults age 10 and up to complete themselves.

How long does the BFI take?

Most people complete the BFI in about 9 minutes. You can pause at any time — your answers are saved in your browser, so you can resume on the same device.

Is the BFI diagnostic?

No. The BFI is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It is a research-grade measure that can suggest whether further evaluation is warranted, but only a licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations via telehealth — a doctoral-level psychologist conducts a comprehensive evaluation, with reports typically delivered within days.

Is the BFI free to take here?

Yes. The BFI is free to take on this page. We don't require a sign-up, and we don't collect or share your responses — your answers are saved locally in your browser. You can also export your results as a PDF for your own records or to share with a clinician.

What does my BFI score mean?

After you complete the BFI, you'll see your total score broken into the validated severity / likelihood bands published for this instrument, along with a plain-language interpretation. Specific cutoffs vary by tool — for the BFI, the scoring ranges and band descriptions are shown directly on the results page.

What if my BFI score is elevated?

An elevated score on the BFI is one signal — not a diagnosis. The recommended next step is a comprehensive clinical evaluation. NeuroClarity offers PSYPACT-licensed telehealth autism and ADHD evaluations starting at $950 flat fee with no waitlist; reports are typically delivered within days and include the diagnostic documentation needed for IEPs, ABA prior authorization, and other downstream services.

If your BFI score suggests further evaluation may be warranted, book a comprehensive evaluation with one of our PSYPACT-licensed clinical psychologists. Reports typically delivered within one week.

How the BFI compares to related screeners

Most screeners measure similar constructs but vary in length, target audience, and emphasis. Here's how the BFI relates to the most commonly-paired alternatives.

BFI vs SCARED - Child

The BFI and the SCARED - Child both measure Big Five personality dimensions at a similar length (44 vs 41 statements). They originated from different research groups (1999 and 1997 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the SCARED - Child →

BFI vs LSAS

The BFI and the LSAS both measure Big Five personality dimensions at a similar length (44 vs 48 statements). They originated from different research groups (1999 and 1987 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the LSAS →

BFI vs OAQ

The BFI and the OAQ both measure Big Five personality dimensions at a similar length (44 vs 37 statements). They originated from different research groups (1999 and 2007 respectively) and emphasize slightly different facets of the construct. Taking both and comparing your scores can be more informative than either one alone.

Take the OAQ →

Add this free screener to your site

Educators, clinicians, and organizations are welcome to embed the BFI for free. Copy the snippet below. It keeps a small link back to NeuroClarity.

BFI