An Item Factor Analysis of the Eysenck Personality Inventory

Abstract

Considering the wide usage of the Eysenck Personality Inventory, it was deemed desirable to critically examine the factorial nature of its Extraversion and Neuroticism scales. Of prime concern were the questions: (1) is the inventory a univocal measure of extraversion and neuroticism, for which it was designed, (2) are primary personality factors replicable ? An item factor analysis (60 variables, 1319 subjects) extracted 15 interpretable, orthogonal (Varimax) factors: Sociability I, Adjustment‐emotionality, Inferiority, Impulsivity, Mood‐swings‐readjustment, Sleep, Superego I, Jocularity, Sociability II, Dominance, Social conversation, Hypochondriac‐medical, Superego II, and two Lie factors. Obliquity of the primaries was determined by a Promax solution. It was concluded that the Extra version and Neuroticism scales are not univocal and that primary personality factors are replicable, as has been shown by a number of researchers including Eysenck. It is suggested that, until a more comprehensive and accurate inventory, to assess primary factors, is available, the EPI be scored for primary factor scales in order to present a more detailed picture of extraversion and neuroticism for the clinician and the researcher.

The 16PF Related to the Five-Factor Model of Personality: Multiple-Indicator Measurement versus the A Priori Scales

“…Although it has been the most widely used factor-analytic basedl personality inventory for both application and research, Raymond Cattell's 16PF often has been the object of scathing attacks (e.g., Howarth & Browne, 1971;Saville & Blinkhorn, 1981), moderate criticism (Karson & O'Dell, 1974) and resolute defenses (e.g., Cattell, Eber & Delhees, 1968;Cattell & JSmg, 1986). Without assuming a position on either side of this debate, the purpose of this article is twofold: to contribute to our understanding of the 16PF and to contribute to our understanding of competing methods of scale construction.…”

Extraversion and outdoor play in middle childhood

“…Another objection which has been made concerning extraversion as a dimension of personality is that the E-scale includes factors of both sociability and impulsivity (Howarth and Browne, 1972). This may be important in considering the relationship between extraversion and school attainment, but it hardly seems to undermine the presumed relationship between outgoing personalities and outdoor play.…”

Validacija egzistencije faktora drugog reda u Cattellovom inventaru ličnosti 16pf

“…Prije svih, najmarkatnije se izdvaja pitanje faktorske strukture 16PF upitnika, što predstavlja najdirektniji udar na valjanost intrumenta u cjelini. Brojni su napori poduzeti od strane nezavisnih autora koji su pokušali da dobiju strukturu 16 faktora pretpostavljenih od autora upitnika (Adcock & Adcock, 1977;Burdsall & Bolton, 1979;Eysenck & Eysenck, 1969;Fiske, 1949;Howarth & Browne, 1971;Karson & OʼDell, 1974;Kline & Barrett, 1983;Sells, Demaree, & Will, 1970). No, za većinu ovih pokušaja može se reći da su bili neuspješni.…”

“…No, za većinu ovih pokušaja može se reći da su bili neuspješni. Howarth i Browne (Howarth & Browne, 1971) su tako, koristeći četvrtu reviziju upitnika, našli 10 interpretabilnih faktora koji se nisu poklapali sa logikom rasporeda stavki kako je to pretpostavio Raymond Cattell. Faktorsko analitička studija koju su proveli Sells, Demaree i Will (Demaree & Will, 1970) kao i studija koju su poduzeli Eysenck i Eysenck (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1969), također nije dale dokaze o Cattellovim navodima o broju primarnih faktora.…”