16 PF
SOURCES
• Cohen, R.J., Swerdlik, M.E. & Kumthekar, M.M. (2014). Psychological Testing and Assessment,
7th edition. 408-410
• Additional reading
• Cattell, R. (1956). A shortened basic English version (form C) of the 16 PF questionnaire.
[Link]
• [Link]
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
CATTELL
• Predating the currently universal Big Five Factor Model (FFM)
• View of personality: ‘personality is the manner in which human
beings behave in a certain situation’.
• Therefore it is possible to infer personality traits based on a set of
behaviors and, reciprocally, it is possible to predict how a person
would behave in a certain situation by having information about
their personality traits
USES
• adaptation in more than 35 languages
• workplace context (selection, promotion and career
development, management training, groups work and
leadership)
• clinical context (psycho diagnosis, couple therapy)
• educational context (professional guidance)
TEST DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT OF THE 16 PF
• 1943: Cattell reorganized Allport’s famous list of
adjectives into 171 personality descriptors, which were
used to describe the personality in empirical studies
involving factor analysis
• 1957: identified 46 surface traits understood as the set of
observed behaviors opposed to the source traits that
would be the latent variables causing the surface traits.
FORMS A, B AND C
• Forms A and B of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire have
10 and 13 items per factor. Original 300 items.
• mean coefficient of equivalence, i.e., mean for the typical factor, of
0.51,
• mean split-half consistency coefficient (corrected to the full 20 or 26
items) of 0.69.
• Form C: 90 chosen items, consisting of 6 highest loaded items per
factor, were now arranged in cyclical order for the final C Form
questionnaire. 8 items for the sixteenth, "built-on" factor, B, general
intelligence, were added. Final 100 items and 20 minutes in length, in
simple English. (Cattell, 1956)
• 1965: the results were inter correlated and submitted to
factor analysis, reaching 16 personality traits considered
by Cattell as basic, found in the L and Q data
• Bottom up methodology: its primary factors are
empirically derived from decades of research
• 1989: adaptation of High School Personality
Questionnaire, 12 – 18 years (Cattell) by R. N.
Thakur.
• 1987 / 1999: Kasa Mi, Asa Mi: Marathi
adaptation and ‘Know yourself’ English adaptation
of HSPQ by P.M. Sanshodihka
• CPQ Children’s Personality Questionnaire for ages
8-12 adapted by Patel (1989) in Gujarati and by
Kapoor and Rao in Hindi
• ESPQ Early School Personality Questionnaire for
ages 6 - 8 adapted by Bharat Dave (1989)
• 1997: adapted in Gujarati by Sheela J. Emmanuel
• All four forms (A, B, C, D) adapted by S.D. Kapoor in English and Hindi
• Cross cultural compatibility adaptation in Pakistan
(COSTA JR. & MCCRAE, 2007) - REANALYSIS OF
CATTELL’S DATA
• 1 extraversion, 2 anxiety, 3 tough mindedness, 4
independence and 5 self-control (initial 5 factors – global
factors)
• Later updated (OCEAN factors) as 1 extraversion, 2
neuroticism, 3 openness to experience, 4 agreeableness
and 5 consciousness
• 3 kinds of basic data to capture personality dimensions:
• (a) responses to questionnaires, that is, the introspection of the individuals
about their own behavior (Q-data);
• (b) third party reports based on observations about the individual everyday
life behaviors (L-data); and
• (c) relatively straightforward measures of behavior controlled in a lab
DESCRIBING THE 16 FACTORS
• A Warmth (reserved, cool x outgoing, participating)
• B Reasoning (lower g x higher g)
• C Emotional Stability (Emotionally instable, affected by
feelings, easily upset x Emotionally stable, adaptable, calm)
• E Dominance (deferential, docile, cooperative x assertive,
dominant, independent)
• F Liveliness (serious, introspective x carefree, cheerful,
enthusiastic)
• G Rule Consciousness (expedient, inconvenient x conscientious,
conforming with cultural and conventional values)
• H Social Boldness (shy, timid x socially bold, venturesome)
• I Sensitivity (utilitarian, objective x sensitive, tender
minded)
• L Vigilance (trusting, unsuspecting x skeptical, vigilant)
• M Abstractedness (practical, grounded x abstract,
absorbed in ideas)
• N Privateness (forthright, genuine x polished, private)
• O Apprehension (complacent, selfassured x apprehensive,
indecisive)
• Q1 Openness to Change (conservative, traditional x
experimental, open to change);
• Q2 Self – Reliance (group-oriented, affiliative x self-
reliant, solitary);
• Q3 Perfectionism (undisciplined, tolerates disorder x
controlling, perfectionist);
• Q4 Tension (calm, relaxed x tense, impulsive)
