Two approaches for identifying shared personality dimensions across methods

Two approaches are illustrated, one exploratory and one confirmatory, for d etermining the extent to which personality dimensions are invariant across different methods of measurement. Using the interbattery factor model (Brow ne, 1979, 1980; Tucker, 1958), Study 1 explores the links between the Five- Factor Model of Personality, as assessed by the NEO-PI (Costa & McCrae, 198 5), and the Needs system of Murray, as assessed by the Personality Research Form (Jackson, 1984). Study 2 uses an interbattery approach to examine the common structure underlying two widely used coping measures: the revised W ays of Coping Checklist (Folkman, Lazarus, Dunkel-Schetter, Delongis, & Gru en, 1986) and the COPE Inventory (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989). The two studies illustrate the use of interbattery factor analysis as a means o f separating battery-specific (method) factors from interbattery (trait) fa ctors, in contrast to traditional factor analysis that describes underlying structure without regard to method of measurement. By maintaining the dist inction between variability that is method-specific and variability that is common across methods, the interbattery factor model allows the common tra it structure underlying multiple measures to be described more accurately.