Eysenck Personality Questionnaire–Revised (EPQ-R Short Form): A Full Guide for Researchers and Clinicians
Published
The EPQ-R Short Form is a 48-item yes/no personality questionnaire. Learn its four 12-item scales (P, E, N and Lie), scoring, versions and evidence.
Introduction
The EPQ-R Short Form is a brief self-report questionnaire that measures the four major personality dimensions of the Eysenck model: Psychoticism (P), Extraversion (E), Neuroticism (N) and the Lie (L) scale. S. B. G. Eysenck, H. J. Eysenck and Paul Barrett published it in 1985, and it has received more than 4,200 citations.
The short form was intended for situations where administration time is limited, while keeping acceptable psychometric properties. This guide explains its scales, scoring, versions and evidence.
Key Features of the EPQ-R Short Form
Purpose and Use
The EPQ-R Short Form measures the four dimensions of the Eysenck personality model when time is limited. It is particularly suited to research.
Target Population
The EPQ-R Short Form is intended for adults aged 18 and older.
Structure
The questionnaire has 48 items, with 12 items in each of four scales:
Scale
What it covers
Items
Psychoticism (P)
For example hostility, lack of empathy and non-conformity
12
Extraversion (E)
Sociability, liveliness and activity
12
Neuroticism (N)
Emotional instability, anxiety and worry
12
Lie (L)
Socially desirable responding
12
Scoring Method
All 48 items are answered Yes or No:
Item scores: each item scores one point for either a "Yes" or a "No" answer, depending on the published scoring key.Scale scores: sum the keyed responses for the 12 items in each scale.Higher scores indicate higher levels of the corresponding trait. There is no overall total score, and no cut-off values are reported.
Administration Format
The EPQ-R Short Form is a self-report questionnaire with a dichotomous Yes/No response format.
Applications of the EPQ-R Short Form
The EPQ-R Short Form supports several uses:
Personality research: measuring the Eysenck dimensions when administration time is limited.Response-style checks: the Lie scale assesses socially desirable responding.Languages and availability
A Japanese version has been tested for reliability and validity.
The original article is published in Personality and Individual Differences (Elsevier), and an English version is available on Psytests.
Reliability and Validity
The original development study showed acceptable internal reliability, and items were selected using factor-analytic methods.
Validation studies:
A revised version of the psychoticism scale (1985): study linkReliability and validity of a Japanese version of the short-form EPQ-R (1993): study linkLimitations and Considerations
Keep these points in mind:
No cut-offs: no diagnostic cut-offs were established in the original publication.No total score: results are reported as four separate scale scores.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
Other versions include:
EPQ-R: the 100-item revised versionNew Short Form EPQ-R: a 2018 version based on item response theoryAbbreviated EPQ-R: a 2019 multidimensional item response theory versionThese questionnaires are related:
Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI)Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI)Big Five Inventory (BFI); see the ResRef BFI guideNEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI); see also the ResRef NEO PI-R guideAdditional Resources
The original article: linkFor inquiries, the contact reference is S. B. G. Eysenck, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, England. No email contact was identified.Browse more psychology questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the EPQ-R Short Form measure?The EPQ-R Short Form measures the four dimensions of the Eysenck personality model: psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism and the Lie scale, which assesses socially desirable responding.
How is the EPQ-R Short Form scored?Each of the 48 Yes/No items scores one point for the keyed answer. The keyed responses are summed for the 12 items in each scale, and higher scores mean more of that trait.
How many items does the EPQ-R Short Form have?It has 48 items, with 12 items in each of its four scales. The full EPQ-R has 100 items, and newer short versions based on item response theory were published in 2018 and 2019.
Does the EPQ-R Short Form have cut-off scores?No. The original publication did not establish diagnostic cut-offs or an overall total score. Results are interpreted as four separate scale scores, mainly in research.
A Word from ResRef About the EPQ-R Short Form
The EPQ-R Short Form is a concise personality assessment designed to measure the four major dimensions of the Eysenck personality model when administration time is limited. The original development study demonstrated acceptable internal reliability and item selection based on factor-analytic methods. It is particularly suitable for research applications, although no diagnostic cut-offs were established in the original publication.
References
Eysenck, S. B. G., Eysenck, H. J., & Barrett, P. (1985). A revised version of the psychoticism scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 6(1), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(85)90026-1Hosokawa, T., & Ohyama, M. (1993). Reliability and Validity of a Japanese Version of the Short-Form Eysenck Personality Questionnaire—Revised. Psychological Reports, 72(3), 823–832. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1993.72.3.823