Factor Analysis of an Afrikaans Translation of the Comrey Personality Scales

Abstract

The factorial validity of an Afrikaans translation of the Comrey Personality Scales, was investigated using a sample of 804 South African university students. Nine factors were extracted and rotated. Eight of the factors were clearly recognisable as the eight factors that comprise Comrey's 1970 taxonomy of personality traits. Coefficients of congruence indicated that seven of the factors were very similar to the factors obtained in the American normative sample. Loadings for The Social Conformity factor were not as high as expected, but this may have been due to the fact that the participants were nonvolunteers who may have been hesitant to reveal nonconforming attitudes and behaviors. These results lend additional support for the factorial validity of the traits in Comrey's taxonomy which have now been identified and replicated in several countries and languages.