Number of factors in the personality sphere: Does increase in factors increase predictability of real-life criteria?

Abstract

Many researchers support a 5- 8-factor theory; Cattell urges a 16-factor system. Factoranalysis has been unable resolve this controversy. Hence, the degree which 6 and 16 factorsrelated a proposed new criterion (real-life data) was evaluated in 16 data sets. When factors wereincreased from 6 16, 88% of the studies showed a significant (p < .01) increase in R. The percent-age of variance accounted for, after shrinking the R&, was doubled. We concluded that the 5- 8-factor position has limited usefulness; use of more factors is strongly supported.There is a continuing controversy over the appropriate num-ber of factors. Theorists and researchers have pro-posed differing numbers of factors as being necessary andsufficient describe normal personality. Although attempts tointegrate or amalgamate the new factors with existing factorsare rare, Peterson (1965) felt that many factors in different sys-tems differed in name only and that only a few fac-tors had truly been denned. Others suggest that more effortshould be spent on a larger number of factors (Buss&Craik, 1985).An agreed-on minimum number of factors wouldenable systematic exploration of personality's relation othervariables. One must be able specify the universe of traitsthat define personality (McCrae & Costa, 1985, p. 711) dosuch systematic exploration. Without established personalityfactors, research efforts are fragmented.A well-defined taxonomy of would delineate therelations between agreed-on factors as the periodicta…