A confirmatory factor analysis of two models of sensation seeking

Abstract

The factor structures of Zuckerman's sensation seeking scale Form V (SSSV) [Zuckerman, M., Eysenck, S. & Eysenck, H. J. (1978). Sensation seeking in England and America: cross-cultural, age and sex comparisons. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 46 (1), 139–149 revised, Zuckerman, M. (1994). Behavioural Expressions and Biosocial Bases of Sensation Seeking . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.] and Arnett's [Arnett, J. (1994). Sensation seeking: a new scale and a new conceptualisation. Personality and Individual Differences 16 (2), 289–296] inventory of sensation seeking (AISS) were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis. 822 participants completed the two measures of sensation seeking and the sample was divided randomly into two subsamples. The factor structures were examined using confirmatory factor analysis with one half of the data. Modification indices (MIs) and standardised expected parameter changes (SEPCs) were used to modify the models as appropriate. The modified models were then re-estimated using the second half of the data set. MIs and SEPCs indicated correlations between the unique variance of some of the SSSV items, suggesting that the subscales may not be unidimensional and in the removal of some items from the AISS due to low factor loadings. A shortened four-factor scale based on the SSSV was tested but did not provide satisfactory results. In light of these and other limitations with the SSSV it is concluded that the modified shortened AISS may provide the more appropriate measure of sensation seeking.