The 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire

1. INTRODUCTION
More and more organisations are using competencies and competency structures to identify, develop and reinforce certain types of behaviour that are prerequisites in achieving organisational success. Selection is a critical human resource management practice in organisations in order to have the right fit. (Moyo & Theron, 2011).
According to Cattell (1946), the Fifteen Factor Questionnaire Plus (15FQ+) was developed as an alternative to the 16 Personality Factor series of test, measuring personality and individual differences. Psytech (1992) first published the 15FQ of which the FQ15+ represents an update and revision. The 15FQ+ has kept the authenticity of the FQ15, measuring fifteen of the fundamental personality factors

 Items have been written in simple, clear and concise business English (European).
 The questionnaire have been designed to be brief – comprising of items per scale.
 Items have been selected to maximise reliability, while maintaining the breadth of the original personality factors.
 The questionnaire is available for both pencil and paper and computer (including online) administration. Moreover, for the pencil and paper version of the questionnaire, self-scoring answer sheets and computer readable answer sheets are available.
 A short form of the test, comprising just six items per scale, is also available. The short form of the 15FQ+ has been developed for those situations where rapid test administration is more important that high reliability and validity.”

Reliability of a test measure the stability of the test’s scores over a period of time or internal consistency of the test’s items. (Psychtech International). According to Tyler (2003), the Fifteen Questionnaire Plus have been used on various samples and it has confirmed good levels of internal consistency when the length of the scales are taken into account. Tyler (2003) further states that Psytech South Africa made evidence available on their website of internal consistency reliability. It is assumed that the 15FQ+ is a reliable measure of personality in South Africa, even though the alpha levels are usually lower than in UK samples, however, in comparison to those obtained in South Africa it is favourable from other measures of personality. Psytech South Africa is conscious that literacy and education levels is a challenge and does put constraints on the test’s use and interpretation, therefore, it does not endorse using the 15FQ+ for broad entry level screening outside the United Kingdom. (Tyler