A comparative factor analysis of the bem sex role inventory and the personality attributes questionnaire

Abstract

The conceptualization of masculinity and femininity as separate and independent dimensions is an underlying assumption of the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personality Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ). This assumption was examined by a factor analytic technique to identify possible factors within each measure. Initial factor analysis of the BSRI employed a principal components extraction rotated to an oblique position through the use of the Harris‐Kaiser Type II method. Subsequently, the intercorrelations of the oblique factors were subjected to a principal components extraction, which in turn was rotated to the varimax criterion. Factor analysis of PAQ also employed principal components extraction, rotated using Varimax criteria. Sixteen first‐order and 16 second‐order factors were identified for the BSRI, with 6 first‐order and 9 second‐order factors designated as major factors. Six first‐order factors were identified for the PAQ, with 4 labeled as major. No single, independent, masculine or feminine factors were identified for either the BSRI or the PAQ, although several factors represented or approximated constellations of sex‐typed items. The results suggest that more than two dimensions of masculinity and femininity, as well as other personality variables, are being measured by the instruments.

Self‐Reported Social Desirability in Sex‐Stereotyped and Androgynous Individuals

“…Finally, the feminine group may see itself as more socially desirable because two of the three factors extracted from the sd scale can be considered more interpersonally supportive dimensions. These factors combine well with the basically nurturant factor found in the femininity scale by Gaa et al (1979), Gaudreau (1977), Waters et al (1977), and the present study. Bem (1976), however, has based much of her research on the assumption that a high degree of sex-typing may be undesirable because of its negative relation to self-esteem, and there are several studies that support this contention (Nevill, 1977;Schiff & Koopman, 1978;Spence et al, 1975).…”

“…Since the development of the BSRI, numerous factor analyses have been conducted to determine the factor structure of the masculinityfemininity (m-f) scales (Gaa, Liberman, & Edwards, 1979;Gaudreau, 1977;Gross, Batlis, Small, & Erdwins, 1979;Moreland, Gulanick, Montague, & Harren, 1978;Waters, Waters, & Pincus, 1977;Whetton & Swindells, 1977). All tend to support the multidimensionality of the BSRI.…”

Response Tendency on the Bem Sex Role Inventory

“…However, a complicating factor which makes interpretation difficult is that the F and SD scales are not fully independent, as Bem has maintained. In an attempt to clarify this issue, a factor analysis of the obtained responses was performed (2) and revealed that several factors contained both F and SD scale items.…”

Estereótipos de gênero aplicados a mulheres atletas

“…Nesta nova concepção, a masculinidade e a feminilidade passam a ser construções psicológicas, formadas a partir das interações sócio-culturais e, portanto, independentes da polaridade biológica a que foram inseridas inicialmente. Atualmente, os conceitos de masculinidade e feminilidade são concebidos como estruturas multidimensionais (Antill & Russell, 1982;Archer, 1989;Aubé & Koestner, 1992;Bernard, 1981;Feather, 1978;Gaa, Liberman & Edwards, 1979, Gaudreau, 1977Koestner & Aubé, 1995).…”