FACTOR STRUCTURE AND CONVERGENT VALIDITY OF THE AGGRESSION QUESTIONNAIRE IN AN OFFENDER POPULATION

The study examined whether the 4-factor structure of the Aggression Qu estionnaire (AQ; A. Buss & M. Ferry, 1992), consisting of Physical Agg ression, Verbal Aggression, Hostility, and Anger, would replicate in a n offender population. The AQ and Novaco's Anger Scale (NAS; R. Novaco , 1994) were administered to 200 adult offenders. The results of a con firmatory analysis suggested that the 4-factor model is a poor fit in an offender population. A 2-factor model was suggested: 1 factor combi nes Physical Aggression and Anger; the other combines Verbal Aggressio n and Hostility. Evidence of convergent validity of the 2-factor model was provided by high correlations between the AQ and the NAS.