Factor Scales of the CPI: Do they Capture the Valid Variance?

Abstract

Using data collected in 1962 and 1963 from a sample of 861 male and female National Merit Scholarship participants, the investigators studied the validity of 16 of the 18 CPI scales. In particular, the study was designed to discover whether the common factor variance of the CPI scales carries the valid scale variance or whether the unique scale variance contains the information critical to scale validity. Each CPI scale score was broken down into a portion attributable to the two principal factor scales (Nichols and Schnell, 1963) and a portion not so attributable. With one exception, the tolerance scale, the CPI scales showed considerable validity. That is, they were substantially more strongly related to particular criterion variables (8 to 20 criteria) than to variables in general (178 variables). With four exceptions, the valid scale variance was carried in the common factor portion rather than in the unique portion of the scale variance. The exceptions to this rule showed the valid variance being shared roughly equally between the common factor and unique portions of the scale variance. The investigators concluded that for the most part the factor scales do indeed capture the valid variance in the CPI profile.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Campbell, D. T. and Fiske, D. W. Convergent and discriminant validation by multitrait-multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 1959, 56, 81-105.

Goldberg, L. R. and Hase, H. D. Strategies and tactics of personality inventory construction: An empirical investigation. Oregon Research Institute Research Monographs, 1967, 7(1).

Gough, H. G. A nonintellectual intelligence test. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1953 , 17, 242-246. (a)

Gough, H. G. The construction of a personality scale to predict scholastic achievement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 1953, 37, 361-366. (b)

Gough, H. G. California Psychological Inventory . Palo Alto, Calif.: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1957.

Gough, H. G. An interpreter's syllabus for the California Psychological Inventory. In P. McReynolds (Ed.), Advances in Psychological Assessment . Palo Alto, Calif.: Science and Behavior Books, Inc., 1968. Pp. 55-79.

National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test: Interpretive Manual. Chicago, Ill.: Science Research Associates, Inc., 1964.

Nichols, R. C. and Schnell, R. R. Factor scales for the California Psychological Inventory . Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1963 , 27, 228-235.

Reynolds, C. Correlates of mental ability among somewhat superior American adolescents. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1974.