Construct Validity - OIP & OPP

Once we have ascertained the reliability of a test, we must address its validity. It is important to know that the constructs we are measuring are valid, that it is indeed measuring the characteristic it purports to measure. The following data demonstrates that the dimensions of the 15FQ™ are consistent with similar measures of personality.

The Relationship Between 15FQ™ Scales and OIP Personal Work Needs

A total sample of 1971 completed both the 15FQ™ and the Occupational Interest Profile (OIP) as part of selection and assessment procedures with a diverse number of organisations. The OIP comprises two sections, personal work needs and vocational interests. These are reported separately.

Correlations between 15FQ™ and OIP Personal Work Needs (N=1971)
  15FQ™ Scale OIP Variety OIP Stability OIP Struct OIP People OIP Control
Outgoing .23 .39 .23 .49 .45  
Calm-stable   .54 .27 .24 .39

 

Assertive .28 .23   .25 .50

 

Enthusiastic .45 .22   .45 .44

 

Conscientious   .29 .42      
Socially Bold .23     .51 .46  
Intuitive            
Suspicious   -.27        
Conceptual            
Restrained -.21          
Self-doubting   -.41        
Radical            
Self-sufficient   -.26 .21 -.51 -.22  
Disciplined     .29 -.33 .23  
Tense-driven   -.39      

 

Distortion   .41 .29   .24  
OIP-Variety Need for Variety
OIP-Stability Need for Stability
OIP-Struc  Need for Structure
OIP-People Need for People
OIP-Control  Need for Control
Correlations between 15FQ™ and OIP Vocational Interests (N=1971)

 

15FQ™ Scale OIP Pers OIP Scient OIP Pract OIP Admin OIP Nurt OIP Art OIP Log
Outgoing .44   .15 .15 .23 .16 .18
Calm-stable .30     .22     .26
Assertive .42 .13         .25  
Enthusiastic .47         .22 .15  
Conscientious     .15 .29     .22  
Socially Bold .57       .21 .28 .14  
Intuitive .16   -.21   .15 .44    
Suspicious         -.16      
Conceptual .26 .14     .16 .48    
Restrained       .15     .13  
Self-doubting -.14              
Radical   .13       .24    
Self-sufficient -.30       -.26      
Disciplined .16     .23     .17  
Tense-driven .22              
Distortion .18 .14 .14 .17     .22  
OIP-Pers    Persuasive Interests OIP-Nur    Caring Interests
OIP-Sci    Scientific Interests OIP-Art    Creative Interests
OIP-Prac    Practical Interests OIP-Log    Logical Interests
OIP-Admin    Administrative Interest  

The above table presents the correlations with 15FQ™ and OIP Personal Works Needs. For each of the five OIP dimensions, one or more corresponding 15FQ™ correlates is found. OIP Variety is strongly related to 15FQ™ Enthusiastic. OIP Stability is highly correlated with all 15FQ™ anxiety scales. OIP Structure is related to 15FQ™ Conscientious and OIP People to each of the 15FQ™ Extraversion dimensions. Finally OIP Control is most closely related to 15FQ™ Assertive.

As might be expected, as 15FQ™ does not measure interests, the correlations between 15FQ™ and OIP Vocational Interests are only very modest in magnitude. Only three of the interest areas appear to relate to personality traits. People who are interested in Persuasive roles tend to be more outgoing, Assertive, Socially Bold and Enthusiastic. There is a small tendency for those who are interested in administrative work to be Conscientious. Finally interest in artistic and creative activities is positively related to 15FQ™ Intuitive and Conceptual, both measures of creative tendencies.

The Relationship Between 15FQ™ & OPP

A total sample of 274 completed both the 15FQ™ and the Occupational Personality Profile (OPP) as part of selection and assessment procedures with a number of organisations. The following table presents the significant correlations between the two tests.

Correlations between 15FQ™ Dimensions and OPP Scales (n = 274)
OPP Scale 15FQ™ Scales
Assertive Assertive .65 Direct -.45 Calm-stable .30 Confident -.26
Flexible Informal -.57 Flexible -.52 Radical .45
Trusting Trusting -.68 Outgoing .35 Informal -.32
Phlegmatic Confident -.48 Calm-stable .44 Relaxed -.34
Gregarious Outgoing .59 Group Oriented -.56 Socially Bold .40 Enthusiastic .37
Persuasive Socially Bold .56 Enthusiastic .45 Outgoing .29
Contesting Tense-driven .44 Self-doubting .33 Suspicious .28
External Restrained .36 Temperamental -.31 Self-doubting .29
Pragmatic Factual-realistic -.63 Practical -.64 Self-sufficient .35

It can be seen that the OPP Assertive dimension correlates significantly with 15FQ™ Assertive and Direct. OPP Flexible is significantly related to 15FQ™ Flexible and Radical. The OPP Trusting scale correlates highly with its 15FQ™ Trusting counterpart. Phlegmatic on the OPP is related to the 15FQ™ anxiety factors Calm-Stable, Confident and Relaxed. The OPP measure of Extraversion - Gregariousness - correlates with the 15FQ™ extraversion factors of Outgoing, Enthusiastic, Socially Bold and Group Oriented. The OPP dimension of Persuasive is most strongly related to the 15FQ™ factors of Enthusiasm and Social Boldness, which might be thought to be two important traits in determining a persons persuasive powers. The OPP dimension of Contesting, reflecting the Type A personality pattern, not surprisingly correlates highest with the 15FQ™ factor Tense-Driven. This dimension also correlates with 15FQ™ Self-doubting and Suspicion, suggestive of the Type A need to prove themselves coupled with their reluctance to entrust tasks to other people. The OPP dimension of External, a measure of Locus of Control, is not particularly well described by the 15FQ™ but tends to be mildly related to a cluster of anxiety factors - Temperamental, Self-doubting, Suspicious and Tense-Driven. These no doubt reflect the lack of confidence in oneself that is felt by individuals high on External Locus of Control. OPP Pragmatic is highly related to the 15FQ™ factors of Factual Realistic and Practical, which is what one would expect.

Psytech International
The Grange
Pulloxhill
Bedfordshire
MK45 5HE
tel. 01525 720003
fax. 01525 720004
Visit the new 15FQ+ site