THE FACTORIAL VALIDITY OF TRAIT POSITIVE AFFECT SCORES - CONFIRMATORYFACTOR-ANALYSES OF UNIDIMENSIONAL AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODELS

First- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the factorial validity of scores on two positive affect (PA) measurement instruments and a multidimensional representation of PA. Using a sample of college undergraduates (n = 232), trait PA was measu red with items from the Differential Emotion Scale (DES) and the Posit ive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Both multifactorial first -order and second-order models fit the DES and PANAS reasonably well. Moreover, the first-order factors within each instrument were signific antly correlated. With respect to the multidimensional representation of PA, both three- (Joviality, Self-Assurance, Interest/Attentiveness) and four-factor (the three-factor model plus Surprise) models were te nable. However, in the four-factor model, only a nominal amount of var iance in a first-order Surprise factor was explained by a second-order PA factor.