16PF
Generalities
The 16PF was developed by R.B. Cattell. The first version was published in 1949, and subsequent versions in 1956, 1962, and 1968. A fifth version, the 16PF5 was published in 1993 and is still much in use today. A lot of psychometric studies are available. The test is translated in many languages.
The test takes more than one hour to take. It is primarily utilized by psychologists and sold exclusively to them for utilization in counseling, recruiting, and clinical situations. The 16PF5 version added five new dimensions (EX, AX, TM, IN, SC) as an effort to cope with the BIG5 approach research. The 16+5 dimensions measured by the 16PF are listed in the following table.
| Factor | Title | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Factor A | Warmth | Reserved, Distant | Warm, Outgoing |
| Factor B | Reasoning | Concrete | Abstract |
| Factor C | Emotional Stability | Reactive | Adaptive |
| Factor E | Dominance | Deferential, Cooperative | Assertive, Dominant |
| Factor F | Liveliness | Serious, Restrained | Animated, Spontaneous |
| Factor G | Rule-Consciousness | Expedient, Nonconforming | Rule-conscious, Dutiful |
| Factor H | Social Boldness | Threat sensitive, Timid | Venturesome, Think-skinned |
| Factor I | Sensitivity | Utilitarian, Objective | Sensitive, Sentimental |
| Factor L | Vigilance | Trusting, Unsuspecting | Skeptical, Wary |
| Factor M | Abstractedness | Grounded, Practical | Imaginative, Idea-oriented |
| Factor N | Privateness | Forthright, Genuine | Discreet, Non-disclosing |
| Factor O | Self-assured, Complacent | Worried, Self-doubting | |
| Factor Q1 | Openness to change | Traditional, Attached to familiar | Experimenting |
| Factor Q2 | Self-reliance | Group-oriented | Solitary, Individualistic |
| Factor Q3 | Perfectionism | Unexacting, Flexible | Organized, Self-disciplined |
| Factor Q4 | Tension | High-energy, Impatient | |
| Factor EX | Extraversion | Socially inhibited | Socially participating |
| Factor AX | Anxiety | Low Anxiety, unperturbed | High anxiety |
| Factor TM | Tough minded | Receptive, intuitive | Resolute, un-empathetic |
| Factor IN | Independence | Agreeable, Selfless | persuasive, Willful |
| Factor SC | Self-control | Unrestrained, follows urges | Inhibit urges |
Comments
The 16PF is a personality test that was created by R. Cattell before the advent of computers and software. The test is based on 16 factors that were identified through factorial analysis. However, in the 1990s, Digman conducted a similar analysis and found only 7 factors, which led to doubts about the validity of the 16PF. Later, the 16PF5 version was developed, which was more consistent, theoretically sound, and in line with recent research on the BIG5.
The 16PF is mainly used in clinical settings rather than for organizational purposes. It was popular among psychologists during the 1970s and 1980s, but its popularity declined in the late 1990s in favor of newer tests based on the BIG5 approach, such as the NEO-PI or the FFM. The popularity of the 16PF may have been due to the reputation of its author, who was a renowned researcher as well as an active writer and speaker.
The 16PF has influenced the development of many other tests, such as the Guilford Zimmerman Temperament Survey (GZTS). Other tests like OPQ or HPI, which have a large number of items and measure more than a dozen traits, can also be considered similar to the 16PF.
References
More on the 16PF in encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O87-16PF.html
More on the 16PF in Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=16PF&btnG=Search
More details about the critique of the 16PF in : Digman J. M. (1996). The curious history of the five-factor model. In: The five-factor model of personality, J. S. Wiggins. New York, The Guilford Press.