The multi-purposed instrument, 16PF or 16 Personality Factors, is used as a career evaluation tool, couple counseling, and personality assessment. 16 PF is used by psychologists and counselors to provide job occupation that best fit the individuals characteristics. Also, 16PF can identify such problems as anxiety, behavior, adjustment, academic, emotional, and social.
When taking the test, the participant most answer 185 multiple-choice items along with 26 multiple-choice items for the Couples’ Counseling Report. Approximately 35-50 minutes is necessary for completion. The 16PF Fifth Edition is the current version of the test.
Author: Raymond Cattell
Reliability and Validity
Moderate to good reliability rating have been reported for the 16PF. Based on a samples of 10,261 individuals, Internal consistency reliabilities are on average 0.76 for the primary scales and a range of 0.68 to 0.87 for all 16 scales. The test-reliabilities over a 2 week period showed scores of 0.69-0.87 for all scales and a 2-month interval showed scores ranging from 0.56-0.79. This data can be found and supported in the 16PF Fifth Edition Technical Manual by Conn & Rieke, 1994.
Studies conducted have supported construct validity (Chernysheno, Stark, & Chan, 2001; Conn &Rieke, 1994; Catell & Krug, 1986; Gerbing & Tuley, 1991; Hofer, Horn, & Eber, 1997). Translation into several languages – Italian, French, Japanese, German – are available for the 16PF. The test’s applied validity to counseling, career development, personality assessment, and clinical problems has been supported (Kelly, 1999; Krug & Johns, 1990; Schuerger & Watterson, 1998). The 16PF is an established instruments receiving thousands of publications and qualified recommendations.
Where to Purchase
IPAT, Inc. (http://www.ipat.com)
References
Cattell, R. B. (1946). The description and measurement of personality. New York: Harcourt, Brace, & World.
Cattell, R. B. (1957). Personality and motivation structure and measurement. New York: World Book.
Conn, S.R., & Rieke, M.L. (1994a). The 16PF Fifth Edition technical manual.
Champaign, IL: Institute for Personality and Ability Testing, Inc.
Krug, S.E., & Johns, E.F. (1990). The 16PF. In C.E. Watkins, Jr. & V.L. Campbell (Eds.), Testing in counseling practice. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Russell, M.T., & Karol, D. (2002). 16PF Fifth Edition administrator’s manual
Schuerger, J.M., 7 Watterson, D.G. (1998). Occupational interpretation of the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire. Cleveland, OH: Watterson & Associates.
Dissertations and Journals
Cousineau, Amy E.; Hall, M. Elizabeth Lewis; Rosik, Christopher H.; Hall, Todd W. (2007). The 16PF and Marital Satisfaction Inventory as predictors of missionary job success. Journal of Psychology and Theology.
Bastick, Tony (1999). Personality Factors of Empathy. Annual Meeting of the Western Psychological Association.
Other Personality Related Instruments
Millon Index of Personality Styles


