Raymond Cattell’s Factor Analytical Trait Theory

1. This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation • In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button • Select “Meeting Minder” • Select the “Action Items” tab • Type in action items as they come up • Click OK to dismiss this box • This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered. Raymond Cattell’s Factor Analytical Trait Theory

2. Factor Analysis • Thousands of variables exist distinguishing individuals • Dozen of theories of personality have been proposed to explain personality • Theories studied so far have, at best, presented a subjective view of human behavior & relied on the theorist’s explanation of its etiology

3. Factor Analysis • A method that attempts to determine the degree of covariation among a large set of variables as they are measured across a large group of subjects

4. Basic Assumption of FA • Certain characteristics correlate, or covary, in such a way as to define a separate psychological dimension, or “factor.”

5. What is Factor Analysis • a statistical means to recognize the regularity and order in phenomena . • when phenomena occur, they occur independently of each other • patterns exist in these independent phenomena • all constructs consist of a pattern of interaction between phenomena

6. Usefulness of Factor Analysis • ...can simultaneously manage over a hundred variables • …can compensate for random error and invalidity • …can untangle complex interrelationships between variables • …can pin-point regularities in those interrelationships

7. Steps in Factor Analysis • 1. Obtain measures of several variables from a large sample • 2. Determine the degree of relationship of every variable with every other variable in the total set (Yields a correlation matrix) • 3. Determine whether there are clusters of variables within the matrix that go together to form dimensions (factor extraction)

8. Steps in Factor Analysis (cont.) • 5. Determine factor loadings – correlations between the factor as a whole and the specific item measures that comprise the factor – indicates the degree to which an item measure goes along with the underlying dimension that constitutes the factor • 6. Name or label the factor, based on the content of the item measures that load on the factor (inherently subjective)

9. Factor Analysis (example) • “Traits” of humans: outgoing, friendly, shy, mean, sarcastic, nice, sociable • If we rate others, then correlate, we find that outgoing, shy, withdrawn and sociable all correlate (some negatively), while friendly, mean, sarcastic, and nice correlate. • These eight words comprise two separate, unrelated (orthogonal) factors, which we might label as “extraversion” and “agreeableness”

10. Costs of Factor Analysis • Complicated mathematical procedure • Difficult to explain • Requiring considerable explanation in scientific articles • Not usually learned by students, even in their statistics courses

11. Cattell & Factor Analysis • Measured people in different ways • L-data or “life” data, e.g., # accidents, # social organizations they belong to, # social contacts • Q-data - “questionnaire” data, e.g., individuals rated themselves on different issues • T-data - “objective” data, e.g., collected via TAT, Rorschach, etc.

12. Cattell & F.A. • Analyze collected data & produce cluster matrix • After clusters analyzed, any correlation noted • Highly correlated tests assume to measure same characteristics • These called factors because they were identified via “factor analysis”

13. Categories of Traits • Cattell argued traits are elements of personality • Two major types of trait • surface traits - groups of observations that are correlated • source traits - actual traits that determine behavior

14. Source Traits • • Temperament trait • – How • • Dynamic trait (motivation) • –Why • • Ability trait • – Kind of response

15. 16 PF • – Warmth (Sizia – Affectia) • – Reasoning • – Emotional stability • – Dominance • – Liveliness • – Rule-consciousness • – Social boldness

16. • 16 PF continued • – Sensitivity (Threctia – Parmia) • – Vigilance (Harria – Premsia) • – Abstractedness (Alaxia – Protension) • – Privateness (Praxernia – Autia) • – Apprehension • – Openness to change • – Self-reliance • – Perfectionism • – tension

17. Nature/Nurture • Cattell’s theory differentiates between environmental and genetic source of traits • “constitutional source traits” determined by heredity • “environmental-mold traits” determined by environment • Ability traits - source traits determine how efficiently one works towards goal

18. Nature/Nurture • Temperament traits - source traits governing emotional expression • Dynamic traits - 2 types of trait motivate person towards goal • “erg”  inherited and similar to “instinct, drive, need” • “metaerg”  environmentally-molded, e.g., opportunity

19. “Specific Equation” • Illustrates Cattell’s deterministic view of human behavior • He argues behavior can be predicted if variables known • Since all variables cannot be know, prediction is “probabilistic”

20. “Specific Equation” (cont.) • R = f(S,P) • A person’s specific response (R) is a function (f) of the stimulus situation (S) at a given moment in time, and of the existing personality structure (P)

21. Evaluation of Cattell’s Theory • Highly praised because of its attention to empirical detail, I.e., “scientific method” • Cattell focused on precise measures to study personality structure • Most critics not concerned with “tough minded” study of personality

22. Critics of Theory • suggest some of Cattell’s findings not replicated • Cattell’s 16 factors really 5 factors, I.e., “Big Five” • suggest that the “naming” of identified factors was ‘subjective’