| Abstract: | Many researchers support a 5- to 8-factor personality theory; Cattell urges a 16-factor system. Factor analysis has been unable to resolve this controversy. Hence, the degree to which 6 and 16 factors related to a proposed new criterion (real-life data) was evaluated in 16 data sets. When factors were increased from 6 to 16, 88% of the studies showed a significant increase in R. The percentage of variance accounted for, after shrinking the Rs, was doubled. We concluded that the 5- to 8-factor position has limited usefulness; use of more factors is strongly supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
