Comparison of factor analytic results with two-choice and seven-choice personality item formats

Abstract

A translated version of the Comrey Personality Scales (CPS) using a two-choice item format was administered to 159 male applicants for a motor vehicle operator’s license in Israel. Total scores were computed for the 40 homogeneous item subgroups that define the eight personality factors in the taxonomy underlying the CPS. Factor analysis of the intercorrelations among these 40 subvariables resulted in substantial replication of factors found in a previous study employing a seven-choice item format. On the average, higher intercorrelations among subvariables measuring the same factor and higher factor loadings were obtained for the seven-choice item format results. These findings suggest a superiority for the seven-choice over the two-choice item format for personality inventories.