A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of USM Personality Inventory (USMaP-i) among Medical Degree Program Applicants in Universiti Sains Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: USMaP-i is an English, 66-item self-administered inventory, consisting of personality (60 items, 5 factors) and faking (one factor) components, which was mainly developed to measure personality traits among Malaysian students based on local cultures and values. The personality component was based on the Big Five dimensions as suggested by numerous personality researchers. Previous exploratory studies showed promising validity, reliability and stability of USMaP-i. Objective: To provide further validity evidenceof USMaP-ifor use among medical degree program applicants by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Methods: Data were collected as a part of screening of medical degree program applicants for year 2010–2013 intakes in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), of which 657 cases were suitable for analyses following a data screening measures. CFA was performed by bootstrap maximum likelihood estimation due to non-normality of items at multivariate level. Results: Although the revised five-factor model of personality showed good model fit (X 2 (df)=144.36(55), P -value<0.001; CFI=.944, TLI=.921; RMSEA=.050; SRMR=.032, Bollen-Stine bootstrap P -value=0.004), the reliability of the factors is very poor (composite reliabilities (CR)=.483 to .650). In contrast, the unidimensional faking component exhibited good model fit (X 2 (df)=14.15(5), P -value = 0.015; CFI=.984, TLI=.968; RMSEA=.053; SRMR=.011, Bollen-Stine bootstrap P -value=0.068) and factor reliability (CR=0.731). Conclusion: The personality component should be revised and revalidated due to poor reliability, despite showing good model fit. In contrast, the faking component showed good model fit and reliability. Further validation studies are recommended before its use among medical degree program applicants.