Validity of evaluative factors from Big Five and HEXACO questionnaires

Bifactor models were applied to the NEO-FFI-3, HEXACO PI-R, and BFI-2 questionnaires. Factor scores of factors representing the domains of the questionnaires, evaluation, and acquiescence were estimated. Simple and multiple validities of the factor scores were compared with summated scale validities. The evaluation factor was a significant predictor of GPA in all questionnaires. There was little evidence of a relation of GPA to the acquiescence factor. The validities of the domain factor scores, controlling for the evaluation and acquiescence factors, were uniformly more negative than those of corresponding summated scales. Results suggest that the evaluative contamination of Big Five and HEXACO summated scores can be isolated and used effectively with bifactor modeling techniques. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.