1

Running head: 16 PERSONALITY FACTOR

16 Personality Factor

Ipsa Khurana

21213444

1BPSYH- Experimental Psychology

Christ (Deemed to be University), Delhi NCR

 2
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Introduction

Gordon Allport described personality as a dynamic organization, inside the person, of

psychophysical systems that create the person's characteristic patterns of behaviour, thoughts,

and feelings. Eysenck proposed a theory of personality based on biological factors, arguing

that individuals inherit a type of nervous system that affects their ability to learn and adapt to

the environment. British-American psychologist Raymond Cattell (1965) disagreed with

Eysenck’s view that personality can be understood by looking at only two or three

dimensions of behaviour.

Cattell developed a Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, a 185 multiple-choice

self-report questionnaire used to measure personality in both the clinical and non-clinical

settings. With the help of statistical technique called factor analysis, he discovered the

common structures and made a distinction between source and surface traits-Surface traits are

very obvious and can be easily identified by other people, whereas source traits are less

visible to other people and appear to underlie several different aspects of behaviour. He

produced a personality test similar to the EPI (Eysenck Personality Inventory) that measured

each of the sixteen traits. The 16PF (16 Personality Factors Test) has 160 questions in total,

ten questions relating to each personality factor.

The 16 Personality Dimensions

The 16 Personality Dimensions, as defined by Cattell, are as follows:

1. Abstractedness: Imaginative versus practical

2. Apprehension: Worried versus confident

3. Dominance: Forceful versus submissive

4. Emotional stability: Calm versus high-strung

5. Liveliness: Spontaneous versus restrained

 3
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
6. Openness to change: Flexible versus attached to the familiar

7. Perfectionism: Controlled versus undisciplined

8. Privateness: Discreet versus open

9. Reasoning: Abstract versus concrete

10. Rule-consciousness: Conforming versus non-conforming

11. Self-reliance: Self-sufficient versus dependent

12. Sensitivity: Tender-hearted versus tough-minded

13. Social boldness: Uninhibited versus shy

14. Tension: Inpatient versus relaxed

15. Vigilance: Suspicious versus trusting

16. Warmth: Outgoing versus reserved

Validity- It includes the concept of construct validity which was 0.74 to 0.96 (with industrial

and clinical criteria). The 16PF by the University of its Factors has such specific criteria on

validity, potentially against many thousands of specific criteria. The mean of co-relation of

all single items with the factors they represent is 0.37 and the mean co-relation of each group

of 6 items with the factor it represents is 0.71. External validity shows that the test predicts

for a wide variety of real-life situations.

Reliability- Moderate to good reliability rating have been reported for the 16PF. Based on a

sample of 10,261 individuals, Internal consistency reliabilities are on average 0.76 for the

primary scales and a range of 0.68 to 0.87 for all 16 scales.

Client Profile

Name: G.C.

Age: 19
 4
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Sex: Male

Educational Qualification: High school graduate

Address: Dwarka, New Delhi

Date of Conduction: October 12th, 2021

Aim

To assess the personality of an individual using the 16 personality factor questionnaire

Method

Materials and Procedures

The basic materials required are the 16-pf manual, questionnaire booklet, norms table,

standardised stencil, answer sheet, test profile and stationery.

The participant is made to sit comfortable and rapport is established by asking a few

neutral questions like how their day has been so far. After a certain level of comfort is

ensured, the tested is handed to the participant and instructions are read out clearly and

explained comprehensively-with number of questions, how to answer, and trying to answer as

accurately and instinctively as possible.

The participant is informed that there are no right or wrong answers, and they should

answer truthfully, without using an eraser.

The questionnaire is then collected back, for scoring, evaluation and interpretation.

Scoring

The test is scored using the standardised answer stencil, to calculate raw scores for each

individual factor. These scores are then converted to STEN scores using norms table, as per

the client profile.

 5
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
These STEN scores are taken on a test profile sheet where we identify each of the

scores as low, average or high, in order to proceed with the interpretation.

If STEN Score of MD is 6 or higher, we calculate second order factors as well. In this

case, STEN score of MD was less than 6, hence we need not interpret second order factors.

Result

Raw scores were totalled as follows:

(MD-5)

A-11

B-3

C-7

E-7

F-6

G-6

H-5

I-6

L-7

M-6

N-2

O-6

Q1-10
 6
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Q2-8

Q3-3

Q4-5

Using these raw scores to calculate STEN scores-

(MD-4)

A-8

B-3

C-4

E-8

F-4

G-5

H-3

I-6

L-6

M-6

N-2

O-7

Q1-9

Q2-5
 7
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Q3-1

Q4-5

Interpretation

After identifying the scores for respective factors as low, average and high, they were

interpreted as follows:

Factor A- Participant scored high, which implies that they are outgoing, warm-hearted and

easy-going. They are less detached, reserved or critical.

Factor B- Low score on this indicated lower scholastic mental capacity. The participant has

less intelligence but concrete thinking.

Factor C- An average score on this indicated that the participant is fairly affected by feelings,

but can handle it in an emotionally stable and relatively calm manner, with average ego

strength.

Factor E- Participant scored high, implying that they have an assertive, independent, stubborn

and aggressive personality. They tend to be dominant and are not very accommodating.

Factor F- Participant scored average, meaning they are relatively sober, prudent, serious and

taciturn; but do tend to be enthusiastic, lively and impulsive as well.

Factor G- Average score on this, indicating average super ego strength. The participant a]can

be conscientious and rule-bound, but might not feel too obligated.

Factor H- Low score on this, implying that the participant is shy, restrained, diffident and

timid. They are unlikely to be spontaneous, venturesome or socially bold.

Factor I- Average score, meaning they can be fairly tough minded, realistic and self-reliant;

but are tender minded, protective and sensitive as well.

 8
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Factor L- Average score, the participant is adaptable, trusting and free of jealousy; but also

fairly self-opinionated, not easy to fool and suspicious.

Factor M-Average score, participant is practical and proper, careful, conventional and

regulated by external realities; but they also tend to be wrapped up in inner urgencies and

imaginative.

Factor N- Low score, implying they are forthright, natural, artless and sentimental and not

shrewd and penetrating.

Factor O- High score on this, suggesting that they are apprehensive, prone to guilt, worrying

depressive and troubled. They are not placid, confident, self-assured and serene with

untroubled adequacy.

Factor Q1- High score, meaning they are fairly radical-free thinkers, experimenting, critical,

liberal and analytical. They are not conservative with respect to established ideas or tolerant

of traditional difficulties.

Factor Q2- Average score, meaning they are self sufficient and resourceful, but can also be a

sound follower.

Factor Q3- Low score, implying the participant has undisciplined self-conflict and follows

own urges, careless of protocol. They are low on integration and do not have a high self-

concept control, lacking in a socially precise, controlled and following self-image.

Factor Q4- Average score, suggesting that the participant has average level of frustration.

They are fairly relaxed, torpid and tranquil but do tend to get overwrought and tense.
 9
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR

Test profile of the participant

 10
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
Precautions

1. It should be made sure that a participant does not change their answers and eraser is

not used.

2. While scoring and marking the answers, the procedures should be carried out

attentively to avoid any errors.

3. It should be made sure that all external factors that might disrupt the results of the test

shall be controlled, for example, noise, visual distractions, etc.

4. Forming a rapport and making sure transparency with the participant is maintained is

important by making sure they know what the test is about and its procedure

Summary

Raymond Cattell’s 16 Personality Factor test is used to assess the personality traits of a 19-

year-old participant, by measuring various qualities through a questionnaire and using a

stencil to score the individual factors through calculation and evaluation, and then the STEN

scores. Thereafter, these scores were interpreted to present the aforementioned results, giving

an overview of the participant’s personality.

References
16PF manual

Test profile

Normas table

https://www.simplypsychology.org/personality-theories.html
 11
16 PERSONALITY FACTOR
https://www.statisticssolutions.com/free-resources/directory-of-survey-instruments/16-personality-

factors/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_zlBQm31Xuxwta8NI9KknC65mBhSXqUwdmP7N_al884A-

1634889985-0-gqNtZGzNAmWjcnBszQjR

https://www.verywellmind.com/cattells-16-personality-factors-2795977

Cattell, R. B. (1965). The scientific analysis of personality. Baltimore: Penguin

Books.