TY - JOUR
T1 - A comparison of factor models on the PCL-R with mentally disordered offenders
T2 - The development of a four-factor model
AU - Vitacco, Michael J.
AU - Rogers, Richard
AU - Neumann, Craig S.
AU - Harrison, Kimberly S.
AU - Vincent, Gina
PY - 2005/10
Y1 - 2005/10
N2 - For more than a decade, researchers and practitioners have generally accepted a two-factor model for the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) composed of core personality features and an antisocial lifestyle. Very recently, Cooke and Michie (2001) proposed a three-factor solution that divided the core personality features into two dimensions while eliminating antisocial behavior. This study of male, mentally disordered offenders (N = 96) directly compared factor models via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). When using testlets to combine theoretically similar items into single ratings, the nested three-factor model was an excellent fit. Of importance, the development of a four-factor model with the inclusion of antisocial items also produced an excellent fit. Combined with recent research, these findings have important ramifications for the construct validity of the PCL-R.
AB - For more than a decade, researchers and practitioners have generally accepted a two-factor model for the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) composed of core personality features and an antisocial lifestyle. Very recently, Cooke and Michie (2001) proposed a three-factor solution that divided the core personality features into two dimensions while eliminating antisocial behavior. This study of male, mentally disordered offenders (N = 96) directly compared factor models via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). When using testlets to combine theoretically similar items into single ratings, the nested three-factor model was an excellent fit. Of importance, the development of a four-factor model with the inclusion of antisocial items also produced an excellent fit. Combined with recent research, these findings have important ramifications for the construct validity of the PCL-R.
KW - CFA
KW - Mentally disordered offenders
KW - Psychopathy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=26444519854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/0093854805278414
DO - 10.1177/0093854805278414
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:26444519854
SN - 0093-8548
VL - 32
SP - 526
EP - 545
JO - Criminal Justice and Behavior
JF - Criminal Justice and Behavior
IS - 5
ER -