What Difference Does Language Make? Structural Analysis Of The Personality Research Form

Abstract Using the analysis of covariance structures approach, a simultaneous factor analysis was conducted on English (N=1,465) and French (N=695) language versions of the Personality Research Form. A five factor solution that was restricted to be identical in both populations provided a good fit to the data, as measured by the size of residual correlations and difference between xSUP2 values for respective models. The five factors were labelled: (1) Orientation toward work versus play, (2) Outgoing, social leadership, (3) Dependence versus autonomy, (4) Self-protective versus submissive orientation, and (5) Aesthetic, intellectual achievement. This finding provided evidence for the effectiveness of the French language PRF translation, as well as for the presence of common personality dimensions among English and French speaking populations.