The factor structure of the 16PF: Twelve primary and three secondary factors

Abstract

Cattell's 16PF questionnaire was factor analysed in a sample of 410 British students. The number of factors to be extracted was determined by methods previously validated against artificial data sets: the MAP, PA and VSS procedures. Twelve primary factors were extracted from the inter-item correlation matrix. These factors appeared to be related to dimensions of personality identified in other research, but did not resemble the Cattell primary factors. Scales corresponding to the factors gave higher internal consistency and factor validity values than those reported for the Cattell primaries. It may be more useful for future research to refine these new factors, than to attempt to improve the existing 16PF primary scales. Three factors were extracted from the inter-scale correlation matrix, which were labelled anxiety/neuroticism, extraversion, and socialisation, a result consistent with previous research.