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A Critical appraisal of the PRF ANDRO scale

  • Published:
Current Psychological Reviews

Abstract

A factor analysis of the PRF ANDRO reveals a structure reflecting the PRF scales from which the items came. It is argued that there is little value in combining a conglomeration of items from different Personality Research Form scales as has been done with the MASCUL and FEMIN scales of the PRF ANDRO. Rather, relevant intact PRF scales should be considered as separate predictors, for example in regression equations. Alternatively, if single scales are required to represent masculinity and femininity, it is suggested that PRF dominance and nurturance, the scales from which MASCUL and FEMIN draw a plurality of their items respectively, are more suitable than the two PRF ANDRO scales. These latter scales are less internally consistent and show less convergence with other sex-role scales than PRF dominance and nurturance.

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John K., A., John D., C. A Critical appraisal of the PRF ANDRO scale. Current Psychological Reviews 2, 223–230 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979298

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979298

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