A factor analysis of the most frequently used Korean personality trait adjectives

Citation
Dw. Hahn et al., A factor analysis of the most frequently used Korean personality trait adjectives, EUR J PERS, 13(4), 1999, pp. 261-282
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY
ISSN journal
08902070 → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
261 - 282
Database
ISI
SICI code
0890-2070(199907/08)13:4<261:AFAOTM>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
We tested the cross-cultural generalizability of personality structure by f actor-analysing self-ratings of 435 Korean university students on the 406 m ost frequently used Korean personality trait adjectives. A plot of eigenval ues and a test of factor replicability bath suggested a four-factor solutio n. The four varimax-rotated factors showed strong correlations with the fir st four factors of the Big Five (Extraversion, Agreeableness Conscientiousn ess, and Emotional Stability), as measured by markers selected a priori fro m the pool of 406 adjectives. We also investigated a five-factor solution, in an attempt to recover an Intellect factor. The five varimax-rotated fact ors corresponded closely to the classic Big Five, but with a minor differen ce in the rotation of the Conscientiousness and Intellect factors. Solution s involving six and seven factors were also investigated, and these solutio ns produced a Truthfulness factor similar to some previously discovered lex ical factors. The results of the study were discussed in relation to the le xical hypothesis and to previous studies of personality structure in Fast A sian languages. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.