AIM: to access the personality traits of the subject using 16Pf questionnaire developed by

Cattell.

INTRODUCTION:
Basic concepts-
According to Gordon Allport, “Personality is the dynamic organisation within the individual
of those psychophysical systems which determine his unique adjustments to his
environment.”
According to Raymond B. Cattell, “Personality is that which permits a prediction of what a
person will do in a given situation.”
The Latin root for the personality is ‘persona’ which means a mask worn by an actor. The
term personality can be described as a set of unique characteristics within an individual
influencing observable behaviour to a certain extent. Personality has been studied through
several approaches: typological, psychodynamic, behavioural, cultural, humanistic and
others.
The type approaches attempt to comprehend human personality by examining certain broad
patterns in the observed behavioural characteristics of individuals.
The trait approach focuses on the specific psychological attributes along which individuals
tend to differ in consistent and stable ways. Allport, Cattell and Eysenck have advocated to
this approach.
RAYMOND CATTELL’S theory of personality-
Raymond Cattell (1990) applied a statistical technique called factor analysis and defined two
types of traits
1. Surface traits: these aspects of personality can easily be seen by other in outward
action of a person.
E.g., shyness, being quiet, disliking crowds etc
2. Source traits: these are stable and considered to be the building blocks of
personality.
e.g., extroversion. Cattell discovered 16 source traits and later added 7 other source
trait.
The 16 source traits are-
1. Warmth (reserved vs outgoing)
2. Intelligence (less intelligent vs more intelligent)
3. Ego strength (stable ego strength vs emotionality neuroticism)
4. Dominance (humble vs assertive)
5. Impulsivity (sober vs happy- go lucky)
6. Conformity (expedient vs conscientious)
7. Boldness (tough minded vs tender minded)
 8. Sensitivity (tough minded vs tender minded)
9. Suspiciousness (trusting vs suspicious)
10. Imagination (practical vs imaginative)
11. Shrewdness (forthright vs shrewd)
12. Insecurity (placed vs apprehensive)
13. Radicalism (conservative vs experimenting)
14. Self-sufficient (group-oriented vs self-sufficiency)
15. Self-discipline (casual vs control)
16. Tension (relaxed vs tense)
These 16 source traits are seen as trait dimension or continuum, in which there
are two opposite traits at each end.

APPLICATION OF THE TEST-

The 16 PF test is used for a variety of purposes including counselling, career development,
clinical diagnosis, and in organizational settings for hiring and promotion decisions. It is also
utilized in research to study personality structure and its impact on different aspects of
human behaviour.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

● 16 PF as a predictor of job performance in managerial positions (2020): Applied

Psychology- Brown's research investigated the relationship between 16 PF scores and
job performance in managerial roles. The study involved 150 managers across
various industries. The results indicated that higher scores in Reasoning, Emotional
Stability, and Rule-Consciousness were significantly correlated with better
performance evaluations and leadership effectiveness. The paper concluded that the
16 PF could serve as an important tool for identifying potential leaders within
organizations.

● Personality traits of psychology majors using the 16 PF test (2021): Student Research
in Psychology- This study analyzed the 16 PF profiles of 100 psychology majors to
understand common personality traits within this academic discipline. Ahmed found
that psychology students scored higher on traits like Sensitivity, Abstractedness, and
Openness to Change compared to students in other majors. The study concluded
that certain personality traits could influence students' choice of academic discipline
and their approach to studying human behavior.
● 16PF and the Differentiation of Personality by Intelligence (2020): This research
tested the hypothesis that individuals with higher intelligence show greater
 variability in personality traits. Although the hypothesis suggested that more
intelligent individuals would exhibit more diverse personalities, the findings did not
provide clear support for this theory, indicating consistent patterns across different
intelligence levels.

● 16PF and Personality Disorders in Clinical Populations (2023): Researchers examined

the utility of the 16PF in identifying tendencies related to personality disorders.
Results demonstrated that certain combinations of traits, such as high vigilance and
low warmth, align with specific disorder profiles, aiding in early detection and
intervention.

● Application of 16 PF in career counseling. Personality and Individual Differences

(2021): This paper explored the application of the 16 PF in career counseling,
focusing on its ability to predict career satisfaction and job performance. The authors
conducted a study with 200 participants who were seeking career advice. They found
that certain personality traits, such as Openness to Change and Dominance, were
strong predictors of career success and satisfaction in specific industries. The 16 PF
was shown to be a useful tool in guiding individuals toward careers that align with
their personality traits.

Description of the Test:

1. About the test- The 16 PF is a self-report inventory that measures 16 primary

personality traits. It consists of 185 multiple-choice items designed to explore
different dimensions of personality including warmth, reasoning, emotional stability,
dominance, and self-control. It can be administered in both paper-pencil format and
electronically.
2. Reliability- The 16 PF test has shown strong internal consistency with Cronbach’s
alpha values for most factors ranging from 0.70 to 0.85. Test-retest reliability over a
span of 3 to 6 months has demonstrated consistency with coefficients between 0.60
and 0.80.
3. Validity- Construct validity is supported by factor analyses across multiple
populations. The test has been validated in various settings, including clinical,
educational, and occupational, and it has shown good convergent validity when
compared with other personality assessments such as the Big Five.
Method:

Particulars of the subject

Name: ABC

Age: 22

Educational Qualification: Master’s Degree

Gender: female

Occupation: student

Material Required
● 16 PF Test (Paper-pencil format or online test platform)
● Scoring key and manual
● Writing instrument (for paper-pencil version)

Rapport Formation

The subject was informed about the purpose of the test, and was reassured that the results
would remain confidential. Rapport was built by engaging in a brief discussion about the
subject's background and interests.

Instructions:

The subject was instructed to read each question carefully and choose the answer that best
described how they generally feel or behave. They were encouraged to answer as honestly
as possible and were informed that there were no right or wrong answers.

Administration:

The 16 PF test was administered in a quiet and comfortable environment. The subject was
given approximately 30-40 minutes to complete the test, which is the standard time
duration to do this assessment.

Introspective report :

The subject reported the feeling of confidence during the test and mentioned that some
questions made them reflect on their behaviour in certain situations more than others.
Observational Report

The subject appeared calm and focused throughout the test. No signs of distress or
discomfort were observed. The subject completed the test within the allotted time without
asking for clarification on any items.

Scoring

The test was scored using the standard 16 PF scoring key. Each of the 16 primary factors was
calculated, and the raw scores were converted into Sten scores, which fall on a scale from 1
to 10.

Results

FACTOR STEN SCORE INTERPRETATION

Warmth 7 Outgoing, Friendly

Reasoning 9 High Abstract Thinking

Emotional Stability 6 Emotionally Balanced

Dominance 5 Balanced Dominance

Liveliness 4 Moderately Reserved

Rule-Consciousness 8 Conscientious, Dutiful

Social Boldness 5 Balanced Social Confidence

Sensitivity 6 Moderate Sensitivity

Vigilance 7 Cautious and Alert

Abstractedness 5 Balanced Focus on Practical

and Abstract Ideas

Privateness 3 Open and Forthright

Apprehension 4 Self-Assured

Openness to Change 7 Receptive to New Ideas

 Self-Reliance 6 Comfortable with Solitude

Perfectionism 8 High Attention to Detail

Tension 5 Moderate Stress Levels

Discussion & Analysis:

The aim of the study was to assess the personality traits of the subject using the 16 PF test.
The results indicate that the subject exhibits high levels of reasoning and abstract thinking,
suggesting strong cognitive abilities. The subject is also conscientious, open to new
experiences, and emotionally stable, which aligns with the subject’s professional background
in a managerial role. These results are consistent with the findings in the literature, such as
the study by Brown (2020), which highlighted the correlation between high reasoning scores
and job performance in managerial roles.

Limitations & Conclusion:

One limitation of this study is the reliance on self-report measures, which can be influenced
by social desirability bias. Additionally, the subject’s cultural background and life experiences
may affect how they interpret certain items. Despite these limitations, the 16 PF test
provided valuable insights into the subject’s personality, particularly regarding traits that are
critical for professional success in a managerial position. Future research may benefit from
using a combination of personality assessments to corroborate findings.

References:

Jones, S. (2022). A longitudinal study on the effectiveness of 16 PF in clinical settings. Journal

of Personality Assessment.

Smith, R., & Lee, P. (2021). Application of 16 PF in career counseling. Personality and
Individual Differences.

Brown, T. (2020). 16 PF as a predictor of job performance in managerial positions. Applied

Psychology.

J. Intell. 2020, Using the 16PF to Test the Differentiation of Personality by Intelligence
Hypothesis