Warren T. Norman

The Comparative Validity of Questionnaire Data (16PF Scales) and Objective Test Data (O-A Battery) in Predicting Five Peer-Rating Criteria

Thirty tests from the 1955 edition of Cattells Ob jective-Analytic (O-A) Test Battery, plus Forms A and B of the Sixteen Personality Factor Question naire (16PF), were administered to 82 male under graduates. In addition, each subject was rated by 7 to 11 close associates on each of 20 bipolar rating scales, 4 scales tapping each of 5 peer-rating fac tors. These peer ratings were used as criterion vari ables to be predicted by the 16PF scales and by the O-A Battery. The O-A Battery measures were slightly more highly related to one peer-rating fac tor (Culture); the 16PF scales were slightly more highly related to another (Conscientiousness); and the two sets of test variables were essentially equiv alent in predicting the other three factors (two of which showed no significant relationships with either instrument). The lack of any consistent su periority of the objective test scores over the ques tionnaire scales, coupled with some criticisms of the objective tests on purely logical grounds, should make one cautious in accepting the claims being made for the comparative validity of the O-A Bat tery.

COEFFICIENTS ALPHA FOR COMPONENTS

The formula for coefficient alpha for a component is developed. Kaisers special formula for coefficient alpha for a principal component and the Kaiser-Guttman Rule for the “number of components” are mentioned. A numerical example is added. It is conjectured that the sum of coefficients alpha is invariant under orthogonal rotation.

Matching components of self-report and peer-nomination personality measures

Two common methods of measuring personality variables are examined with respect to the ways in which they control respondent biases. A form of the mental-test theory model is developed which makes explicit differences in score components that result from different methodological constraints imposed by the two methods. From the model, it is possible to specify the operations necessary to provide equivalent information from the two sets of data. Performance of these operations in an empirical test supports the model by producing generally higher correlations between the variables having score components which are more closely matched.