Dichotomous and multipoint scales using bipolar adjectives

Abstract

Subjects responded to a set of self-descriptive bipolar adjectives in either a dichotomous format or a 7-point bipolar rating scale format. In addition, each subject answered a measure of social desirability responding rate The responses of over 400 subjects in each format were factor analyzed, followed by a varimax rotation The factor structure for the formats were strikingly similar and closely reflected the traits represented by the adjectives. Social desirability was found to be of minimal influence for either format. However, the factors derived from the multipoint format were slightly clearer and accounted for more variance. In addition, trait measures produced by the sum of four adjective scales from a common content dimension were more internally consistent using the multipoint format.