A Structural Validation of an Inventory Based on the Abridged Five Factor Circumplex Model (AB5C)

Abstract

We investigated the structural validity of an inventory from the International Personality Item Pool (Goldberg et al., 2006) that is based on the Abridged Five Factor Circumplex (AB5C) model. In a Swedish sample of 1,080 subjects using confirmatory factor analysis, we found that the majority of investigated facets had a primary loading on 1 of the 5 personality factors and a secondary loading on another factor. These results provide overall support for the inventory and indirect support for the AB5C model. Some of the problems detected in the inventory appear to be rooted at the item level and may be a result of how the AB5C is operationalized. Thus, the inventory still requires some refinement and is not in its final stage of development. Nevertheless, our preliminary results are very promising, and we believe the AB5C model deserves renewed attention in trait psychology.