Raymond Cattell

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Raymond Cattells Factor Analytical Trait Theory

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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 theorists explanation of its etiology

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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

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Basic Assumption of FA

• Certain characteristics correlate, or covary, in
  such a way as to define a separate psychological
  dimension, or factor.

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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Source Traits

• Temperament trait
• How
• Dynamic trait (motivation)
• Why
• Ability trait
• Kind of response

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16 PF

• Warmth (Sizia Affectia)
• Reasoning
• Emotional stability
• Dominance
• Liveliness
• Rule-consciousness
• Social boldness

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16 PF continued

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

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Nature/Nurture

• Cattells 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

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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

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Specific Equation

• Illustrates Cattells deterministic view of
  human behavior
• He argues behavior can be predicted if variables
  known
• Since all variables cannot be know, prediction
  is probabilistic

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Specific Equation (cont.)

• R f(S,P)
• A persons 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)

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Evaluation of Cattells 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

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Critics of Theory

• suggest some of Cattells findings not
  replicated
• Cattells 16 factors really 5 factors, I.e.,
  Big Five
• suggest that the naming of identified factors
  was subjective