No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Belief in Astrology Inventory: Development and Validation
Abstract
After the paper by Mayo, White, and Eysenck in 1978, a considerable number of papers studied the so-called sun-sign-effect predicted by astrology: people born with the sun in a positive sign are supposed to be extraverted, and those with the sun in a negative sign are supposed to be introverted. In these papers, researchers used ad hoc questionnaires with a few questions related to belief, knowledge, experience, or attitude toward astrology. However, an appropriate inventory with known psychometric properties has yet to be developed to assess the belief in astrology. In the present paper, the Belief in Astrology Inventory is presented with some psychometric data. The participants were 743 undergraduates studying Psychology and Social Sciences at a university in Spain. Correlation of scores on Belief in Astrology and Extraversion was small but significant (r = .22; r2 = .04) for positive sun-sign participants. This value accounts for negligible common variance. Women had significandy higher scores on the inventory than men.
... researchers have found a relationship between extraversion and Sun sign (Gauquelin, Gauquelin, & Eysenck, 1979, 1981Jackson, 1979;Mayo, White, & Eysenck, 1978;Smithers & Cooper, 1978;Van Rooij, 1994;Van Rooij, Brak, & Commandeur, 1988), others found no association between astrologically derived personality profiles and scores on psychometric personality measures (Carlson, 1985;Clarke, Gabriels, & Barnes, 1996;Hartmann, Reuter, & Nyborg, 2006;Hentschel & Kiessling, 1985;Hume & Goldstein, 1977;Jackson & Fiebert, 1980;Mayes & Klugh, 1978;Russell & Wagstaff, 1983;Saklofske, Kelly, & McKerracher, 1982;Silverman & Whitner, 1974;Startup, 1985;Tyson, 1977;Veno & Pamment, 1979). Positive associations have been found between belief in astrology and high extraversion (Eliseo & Urbano, 2006;Shaughnessy, Neely, Manz, & Nystul, 1990), and with being female (Eliseo & Urbano, 2006). Searches of the scientific literature of relationships between personality characteristics and Oriental year of birth revealed one study (Dalhstrom, Hopkins, Dalhstrom, Jackson, & Cumella, 1996) that found no evidence to support any association. ...
... researchers have found a relationship between extraversion and Sun sign (Gauquelin, Gauquelin, & Eysenck, 1979, 1981Jackson, 1979;Mayo, White, & Eysenck, 1978;Smithers & Cooper, 1978;Van Rooij, 1994;Van Rooij, Brak, & Commandeur, 1988), others found no association between astrologically derived personality profiles and scores on psychometric personality measures (Carlson, 1985;Clarke, Gabriels, & Barnes, 1996;Hartmann, Reuter, & Nyborg, 2006;Hentschel & Kiessling, 1985;Hume & Goldstein, 1977;Jackson & Fiebert, 1980;Mayes & Klugh, 1978;Russell & Wagstaff, 1983;Saklofske, Kelly, & McKerracher, 1982;Silverman & Whitner, 1974;Startup, 1985;Tyson, 1977;Veno & Pamment, 1979). Positive associations have been found between belief in astrology and high extraversion (Eliseo & Urbano, 2006;Shaughnessy, Neely, Manz, & Nystul, 1990), and with being female (Eliseo & Urbano, 2006). Searches of the scientific literature of relationships between personality characteristics and Oriental year of birth revealed one study (Dalhstrom, Hopkins, Dalhstrom, Jackson, & Cumella, 1996) that found no evidence to support any association. ...
... Our study is consistent with Shaughnessy et al.'s (1990) and Eliseo and Urbano's (2006) findings that higher extraversion scores are associated with belief in astrology. The finding that females reported significantly higher scores than males on belief in astrology also supports Eliseo and Urbano's findings. ...
Despite widespread cynicism, many people believe that astrology influences individual temperament or personality. The scientific literature on personality and astrological Sun sign published over the last four decades shows varied results. This study explored the basis for such beliefs using a balanced design incorporating age and astrological belief as covariates. One thousand, nine hundred and sixty-seven Australians aged between 28 and 51 completed a Web-based survey. Personality was assessed using a 50-item version of the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP). While previous findings on age and belief in astrology were confirmed, no significant effects for the influence of either astrological Sun sign or Oriental year of birth were found. No Yes
... Many twentieth and twenty-first century scientists have shown an interest in astrology (see Chico & Lorenzo-Seva, 2006;Dean & Kelly, 2003;Dean, Nias & French, 1997;Ertel & Dean, 1996;Eysenck & Nias, 1982;Hamilton, 2001;Hartmann, Reuter & Nyborg, 2006;Kelly, 1997Kelly, , 1998Mayo, White & Eysenck, 1978;Perry, 1995;Tyson, 1984;Van Rooij, 1994, 1999. This specific study takes into account those researchers who were interested in and focused on personality differences between individuals born under different star signs (see Hartmann, Reuter & Nyborg, 2006;Eysenck & Nias, 1982;Mayo, White & Eysenck, 1978;Van Rooij, 1994, 1999. ...
... (1982), they debate the matter in further detail, with some results confirming Gauquelin's findings, whilst others seem to negate these findings. This ambivalence, as well as the research stated earlier (see Chico & Lorenzo-Seva, 2006;Dean & Kelly, 2003;Dean, Nias & French, 1997;Ertel & Dean, 1996;Eysenck & Nias, 1982;Hamilton, 2001;Hartmann, Reuter & Nyborg, 2006;Kelly, 1997Kelly, , 1998Mayo, White & Eysenck, 1978;Perry, 1995;Tyson, 1984;Van Rooij, 1994, 1999, surprisingly suggests that psychology-as a discipline that forms part of the scientific community-has not yet reached consensus in its stance towards astrology. ...
Astrological information often appears in newspapers and magazines. This suggests
that there are readers who may believe that their birthdates relate to astrology and that this
phenomenon influences their everyday lives. Many scientists, particularly psychologists, have
attempted to link astrological signs with personality traits on an empirical level. The results
have often been ambivalent and sometimes even controversial. Scientific evidence generally indicates
that zodiac star positions do not influence different personalities. The study of planetary
alignment, however, seems more complex. Results in this field often involve smaller research
groups, are more difficult to interpret, and can therefore be considered as ambivalent. In this
specific study a large group of 65 268 job seekers was assessed by means of a personality
questionnaire, the so-called Basic Traits Inventory. The personality traits of four groups of individuals
(N = 49, N = 48, N = 39, N = 36) were compared. The groups differed from each
other in that all the members of a specific group shared the same planetary alignment and zodiac
sign. Chronological age, as a mediator, was not taken into account as the individuals were
all born in the same year (1983). No significant differences in personality traits between the
groups were found. The results of this study confirm that neither zodiac star signs, nor planetary
alignments, influence personality. This affirms, through scientific investigation, that astrology
should be seen for what it is; namely an outmoded, archaic belief system based on mythological
assumptions.
... The study sample comprised 925 patients with cancer (60.3% females), aged between 24 and 85 years (Mean: 59.0; Standard deviation: 12.2). 2. BAI is 24-item test that was developed to assess belief in astrology (for details see Chico & Lorenzo-Seva, 2006). The participants were 743 undergraduates studying Psychology and Social Sciences at university (84.1% females), aged between 18 and 60 years (Mean: 21.7; ...
Nowadays, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are two important consecutive steps in an overall analysis process. The overall analysis should start with an exploratory factor analysis that explores the data and establishes a hypothesis for the factor model in the population. Then, the analysis process should be continued with a confirmatory factor analysis to assess whether the hypothesis proposed in the exploratory step is plausible in the population. To carry out the analysis, researchers usually collect a single sample, and then split it into two halves. As no specific splitting methods have been proposed to date in the context of factor analysis, researchers use a random split approach. In this paper we propose a method to split samples into equivalent subsamples similar to one that has already been proposed in the context of multivariate regression analysis. The method was tested in simulation studies and in real datasets.
... While a number of subsequent studies confirmed their findings (e.g., Fuzeau-Braesch, 1997;Jackson, 1979;Smithers & Cooper, 1978), several scholars indeed found that the relationship observed was driven by self-attribution. As an example, van Rooij (1994) shows that aforementioned personality differences can only be observed among individuals with prior knowledge about astrology, a result which mirrors the findings of Eysenck (1981) as well as the later studies by Hamilton (1995) and Chico and Lorenzo-Seva (2006). ...
This paper examines astrology, a concept that is considered unscientific by broad segments of the population in the western world. Despite this, astrology remains for some an important source for advice regarding choices in a range of different matters, including career and relationships. The continuing popularity of astrology may at least partly be linked to an insufficient body of empirical research that has been able to test hypotheses formulated by astrological theory, both due to a lack of data beyond very small study populations as well as astrological predictions frequently being vague and thereby difficult to test. This article examines how differences in astrological favorability influence partner choice in marriage as well as the divorce risk among married couples using longitudinal individual-level data from Sweden over the period 1968-2001. The results fail to provide any consistent evidence to support the notion that astrologically more compatible couples are either overrepresented among observed marital unions or associated with a lower risk of divorce.
(Esta obra está bajo una licencia de Creative Commons ReconocimientoNoComercial 4.0 Internacional) La pregunta ¿qué es la astrología? suscita no sólo una enorme variedad de respuestas sobre las características de dicho conocimiento, sino una polémica interesante que versa sobre la naturaleza del conocimiento en general y la ciencia en particular. Con el objetivo de explorar tal diversidad de puntos de vista, se encuestó a través de internet a un conjunto de voluntarios con alguna formación académica sobre sus opiniones acerca de la astrología y la ciencia. Se distribuyeron las respuestas según se hubieran expresado al respecto de las características, veracidad y utilidad de la astrología, su involucración personal con la misma, y sus opiniones sobre la función del horóscopo. Se reflexiona sobre la diversidad de creencias y visiones de los entrevistados con respecto a la astrología.
The question "What is astrology?" Raises not only a huge variety of answers about the characteristics of such knowledge, but also an interesting controversy concerning the nature of knowledge in general and science in particular. In order to explore such a diversity of viewpoints it was surveyed via the Internet to a group of volunteers with some academic background what their opinions are towards astrology in relation to science. The answers were distributed as had expressed about the features, reliability and usefulness of astrology, personal involvement with astrology, and their views on the role of the horoscope. It reflects on the diversity of beliefs and visions of respondents regarding astrology.
This study examined the reiationship between astroiogicai signs and personaiity traits in 65 268 South African jobseekers (mean age = 24.8 years, females = 59%, Blacks = 98%). Participants compieted the Basic Traits inventory (Tayior and de Bruin, 2006). Contrastive analysis of personaiity traits by astroiogicai signs yieided no significant differences. Until the twentieth century astrologers considered that the stars played a main role in defining human behaviour, but con-temporary psychological astrologers also emphasise the role of Jungian archetypes and psychological structures underlying dif-ferent personalities (Kelly, 1997). Astrology claims to explain typical characteristics of people born at certain times of' the year, and how people who are born at difterent times difter from each other or could complement each other (see MacGregor, 2011; Stirling, 2010; Riske, 2011). In the social media, it is quite common to find sections dedi-cated to zodiac-related statements and predictions. Some scepticism exists, however, among researchers about the sci-entific credibility of astrological writings (see Chico & Lorenzo-. Empirical research generally shows liftle support for astrology claims. Eysenck and Nias (1982), for example, state that behaviour can usually be explained befter by non-as-trological predictors. Nonetheless, many people still read astro-logical descriptions and predictions in the social media, and may also make decisions based thereupon.
Astrology, as presently practiced (in either its traditional or psychological form), has no relevance to understanding ourselves or our place in the cosmos. Modern advocates of astrology cannot account for the underlying basis of astrological associations with terrestrial affairs, have no plausible explanation for its claims, and have not contributed anything of cognitive value to any field of the social sciences. Further, astrology does not have the theoretical or conceptual resources to resolve its own internal problems adequately or external anomalies or to adjudicate among conflicting astrological claims or systems.
The survival and longevity of astrology has been dependent on an astrological community that will, under no circumstances, allow it to fail. Consequently, a large array of ad hoc hypotheses (escape routes) have been marshaled over the years to prevent contrary evidence from being used to confront central tenets of astrology. The result is a closed system with little, if any, empirical grounding. It is further argued that the fit of people to birth charts (horoscopes) lies in several unremarkable, lax rules of astrological interpretation.
When Tucker's congruence coefficient is used to assess the similarity of factor interpretations, it is desirable to have a critical congruence level less than unity that can be regarded as indicative of identity of the factors. The literature only reports rules of thumb. The present article repeats and broadens the approach used in the study by Haven and ten Berge (1977). It aims to find a critical congruence level on the basis of judgments of factor similarity by practitioners of factor analysis. Our results suggest that a value in the range .85–.94 corresponds to a fair similarity, while a value higher than .95 implies that the two factors or components compared can be considered equal.
This study investigated the role of astrology in self-concept verification and coping with negative life-events. Forty students in elementary courses of astrology, psychology, and German language rated their certainty about 20 self-describing attributes and three assumptions related to the self. The subjects were also asked to mark whether and how many times they had experienced particular crises and traumatic events. Participation in an astrology course, but not in psychology or German courses, verified the participant's self-concept by increasing certainty of the self-descriptive attributes and the assumptions of self-control and perceived luck. In addition, interest in astrology was positively correlated with the number of personal crises, but not with the number of past traumatic events. The motivational mechanisms underlying astrological beliefs and the enormous popularity of astrology are discussed.
This study examined the hypothesized relationships between zodiac signs and extraversion-introversion and neuroticism. New Zealand University students (N = 241) who were born under odd versus even and water versus nonwater signs completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. There were no significant differences between subjects classified according to odd versus even sign and the personality dimensions of extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. Neuroticism scores were not significantly different between subjects classified according to water and nonwater signs. It was concluded that the tenets of astrological theory examined here remain unproven.
The distribution of levels of extraversion and neuroticism among a sample of 559 British university students is shown by season of birth. Remarkable similarities were found with results obtained by Mayo, White, and Eysenck [see preceding paper in present journal issue (9)] and Forlano and Ehrlich (6). The outlines of several possible kinds of explanation are sketched, but the main purpose of the paper is to draw attention to the phenomenon.
Male and female undergraduates (N = 174) completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and sun sign and composite planetary sign scores were computed on the basis of their birth dates. No significant correlations were found between the introversion-extraversion scores and sun and planetary signs.
A concept of approximate minimum rank for a covariance matrix is defined, which contains the (exact) minimum rank as a special case. A computational procedure to evaluate the approximate minimum rank is offered. The procedure yields those proper communalities for which the unexplained common variance, ignored in low-rank factor analysis, is minimized. The procedure also permits a numerical determination of the exact minimum rank of a covariance matrix, within limits of computational accuracy. A set of 180 covariance matrices with known or bounded minimum rank was analyzed. The procedure was successful throughout in recovering the desired rank.
A common problem for both principal component analysis and image component analysis is determining how many components to retain. A number of solutions have been proposed, none of which is totally satisfactory. An alternative solution which employs a matrix of partial correlations is considered. No components are extracted after the average squared partial correlation reaches a minimum. This approach gives an exact stopping point, has a direct operational interpretation, and can be applied to any type of component analysis. The method is most appropriate when component analysis is employed as an alternative to, or a first-stage solution for, factor analysis.
In this study 308 women and 114 men (mean age was 25.6 yr.) indicated how well 96 personality traits applied to them. The traits were chosen from astrological literature to represent astrological sun-signs (eight traits for 12 signs). To give some examples, a trait for Aries was Impulsive, for Taurus Conservative, for Gemini Versatile, and so on. It was hypothesized that subjects would describe themselves in terms of those traits that pertained to their sun-sign. This result was found, but only for subjects who had some astrological knowledge. This finding may be accounted for by a process of self-attribution, wherein astrological knowledge may affect a person's self-concept.
Skeptics' and astrology believers acceptance of generalized personality descriptions of the self was explored. Descriptions were varied in two ways: (a) They were attributed to astrology or were said to be a set of statements that might or might not be self-descriptive, and (b) they were socially desirable or undesirable. Overall, believers were more likely than skeptics to accept descriptions as accurate. Favorable descriptions were generally seen as more accurate than unfavorable descriptions, with one exception -believers accepted a negative astrological description as much as a positive one. Skeptics as well as believers rated astrological descriptions as more accurate than identical non-astrological descriptions. Finally, skeptics who received favorable horoscopes, in contrast to all other groups, became significantly more positive in their opinions toward astrology. Implications for the popularity of belief in astrology are discussed.
Mayo, White, and Eysenck found that S s born under the odd-numbered sun-signs had higher mean extraversion scores than others and that S s born under the water signs had higher mean neuroticism scores than others. Pawlik and Buse reasoned that these findings might be attributable to the S s' knowledge of the alleged characteristics of people born under their signs (self-attribution theory).In order to investigate the Pawlik and Buse argument with S s who were assumed to be naive with regard to astrological knowledge, the EPI was administered to 245 student nurses. Neither of the two findings of Mayo et al. was substantiated, but a significant seasonal effect was found post hoc: summer-born S s obtained a higher mean extraversion score than winter-born S s.
The following astrological and empirical predications were investigated in this stud:y: (a) Extraversion is related to birth under the odd numbered sun signs, and introversion to birth under the even numbered signs; and (b) people born under the water signs are more “emotional” than others. Data were collected from 692 male and female university students born in the Southern hemisphere who were administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Results showed no significant differences in extraversion scores of Ss born under odd or even numbered sun signs; or in neuroticism scores of Ss born under water signs.
Participants judged contemporary personality descriptions of odd-numbered astrological Sun signs to be more favorable than descriptions of even-numbered signs. Those born with the Sun in an odd-numbered sign expressed more belief in astrology than those born under an even-numbered Sun sign. These findings suggest that one determinant of acceptance of astrology is the favorableness of the character analysis it offers. Implications for previous research on belief in astrology are discussed.
Zusammenfassung - Auf der Grundlage von Daten zu 1700 Personen, die sich für die Teilnahme an einem Astrologie-Test bewarben, wurde eine Korrelationsmatrix zwischen Indikatoren des astrologischen Glaubens, des astrologischen Wissens und der astrolo- gischen Beratungserfahrung (Besuch eines Astrologen) erstellt. Weiterhin wurde eine Clu- steranalyse durchgeführt, um eine Typologie des Umgangs von Menschen mit der Astro- logie zu entwickeln. Ablehner der Astrologie sind typischerweise männlich und wissen von der Astrologie wenig. Die astrologiekundigen Anhänger der Astrologie sind hingegen typ- ischerweise weiblich. Abstract - Using data from 1700 subjects who applied to participate in a test of astrology, a correlation matrix was set up for measures of astrological belief, astrological knowledge and astrological counselling experience, i.e. visits to an astrologer. In addition, a cluster analysis was carried out to develop a typology of how individuals deal with astrology. There was a strong positive correlation between knowledge of astrology and belief in astrology. The disbelievers ('sceptics') are typically male with little knowledge of astrology, whereas believers with various sorts of experience in astrology are typically female.
This study reports a test of an astrological prediction according to which extraversion is related to being born under the odd numbered zodiacal signs, and introversion to being born under the even numbered zodiacal signs. Also tested is the hypothesis of greater emotionality for people born under the so-called water signs. Nine hundred seventeen male adult Ss and 1407 female adult Ss were administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory, and their birthdates ascertained. Results for males and females separately and jointly support the predictions made on the basis of astrological writings at a high level of significance. Possible causes for this finding are discussed, but it is concluded that artifacts are unlikely to have produced the results obtained.
Ipsatizing variable prior to component analysis, by subtracting the man score of each individual from all scores of that individual, has met with serious criticisms, both strategic and technical. On the other hand, the procedure is still popular in the study of personality, as a means of removing acquiescence variance. An attempt is made at reconciling these facts. Technical objections to component analysis of ipsatized variables, recently restated by Dunlap and Cornwall, are shown to be based on erroneous premises. A strategic objection leveled by Clemans does apply in a majority of cases, but has no bearing on the specific case of ipsatizing responses to personality questionnaires made up of opposite item pears. As an alternative to ipsatizing by subtraction of the mean, partialling the mean component is suggested as a more elegant procedure, allowing a breakdown of explained variance into variance due to the mean and to subequent components uncorrelated with the mean.
Examined the relation of self-report knowledge about astrology, exposure to astrological texts and perceived validity of astrology, leading to an acceptance of astrological character descriptions. 87 students (18–51 yrs old) were divided into a group of examiners and a group of examinees. Each examiner was given a packet consisting of the 12 astrological sign descriptions, while each examinee completed a questionnaire, which the examiners used to ascertain their astrological sign. Examiners then gave their examinees 2 sign descriptions, the correct astrology description and the description immediately following it. Results show that Ss who knew their astrological sign judged the personality profile corresponding to their sign to be a more accurate description of their personality than an alternative astrological sign profile. Neither strong astrological belief nor awareness was necessary for this effect to occur. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This study failed to replicate the findings of Mayo et al. (1978), that individuals' astrological Sun signs are associated with extraversion and neuroticism scores on the EPI. These negative findings could have been due to the controls employed here for the subjects' belief in astrology and for subject self-selection. Additional controls for the effects of knowledge of Sun sign on self-reports revealed that the zodiacal locations of the Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars are also not associated with reported extraversion and neuroticism.
This article examines the adequacy of the “rules of thumb” conventional cutoff criteria and several new alternatives for various fit indexes used to evaluate model fit in practice. Using a 2‐index presentation strategy, which includes using the maximum likelihood (ML)‐based standardized root mean squared residual (SRMR) and supplementing it with either Tucker‐Lewis Index (TLI), Bollen's (1989) Fit Index (BL89), Relative Noncentrality Index (RNI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Gamma Hat, McDonald's Centrality Index (Mc), or root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA), various combinations of cutoff values from selected ranges of cutoff criteria for the ML‐based SRMR and a given supplemental fit index were used to calculate rejection rates for various types of true‐population and misspecified models; that is, models with misspecified factor covariance(s) and models with misspecified factor loading(s). The results suggest that, for the ML method, a cutoff value close to .95 for TLI, BL89, CFI, RNI, and Gamma Hat; a cutoff value close to .90 for Mc; a cutoff value close to .08 for SRMR; and a cutoff value close to .06 for RMSEA are needed before we can conclude that there is a relatively good fit between the hypothesized model and the observed data. Furthermore, the 2‐index presentation strategy is required to reject reasonable proportions of various types of true‐population and misspecified models. Finally, using the proposed cutoff criteria, the ML‐based TLI, Mc, and RMSEA tend to overreject true‐population models at small sample size and thus are less preferable when sample size is small.
The present study replicated the study by Mayo, White and Eysenck (1978; Journal of Social Psychology, 105, 229–236) that confirmed the astrological proposition that people born with the sun in a positive sign (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius) are extraverted and those with the sun in a negative sign (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces) are introverted. This result was indeed found, but only with subjects who had astrological knowledge. As an explanation a process of self-attribution is suggested. Furthermore, it proved that this self-attribution effect is strengthened when subjects receive a cue that the study pertains to astrology. Finally it proved that subjects with the sun in a positive sign are especially susceptible to such a cue. Though the validity of astrology itself could not be demonstrated, it is concluded that astrology may have a profound influence on people's self-concept, due to psychological processes like self-attribution and selective self-observation.
The process of self-attribution is an important factor in the development of beliefs in the validity of presented personality descriptions. Hamilton (2001) proposed that the relative favourableness of astrologically derived personality descriptions is a moderator variable for long-term self-attribution effects based on knowledge of the astrological sun-sign symbolism. Because the sets of traits associated with some sun-signs are thought to be more favourable than those of other sun-signs, she predicts that natives born under a more favourable sign should show a stronger belief in astrology than subjects born under less favourable signs. To test this hypothesis, we studied 1700 German subjects, to see if their belief in astrology varied with respect to their sun-sign. But the mean belief scores were almost exactly the same for all sign groups, providing strong evidence against Hamilton's hypothesis. It is proposed that the conflicting empirical findings of Hamilton (2001) are probably artefacts of the experimental setting, and not long-term effects of self-attribution.
Participants judged contemporary personality descriptions of odd-numbered astrological Sun signs to be more favorable than descriptions of even-numbered signs. Those born with the Sun in an odd-numbered sign expressed more belief in astrology than those born under an even-numbered Sun sign. These findings suggest that one determinant of acceptance of astrology is the favorableness of the character analysis it offers. Implications for previous research on belief in astrology are discussed.
In view of certain psychometric deficiencies of the original Psychoticism scale, an attempt was made to improve the scale by adding new items. It was attempted to increase the internal reliability of the scale, improve the shape of the distribution and increase the mean and variance score. Two different studies are discussed. Reliabilities are now somewhat improved, distributions are closer to normal and mean scores are higher than on the old scale. Four new short 12-item scales for the measurement of P, E, N and L are also given.
The aim of this study was to determine whether variations in Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI) scoring among zodiacal birth groups follow a similar pattern for Ss born in the Southern hemisphere to that which has been reported for Northern hemisphere Ss. EPI and birth data were obtained from 450 adult Ss, of whom 338 were New Zealand born. Results for Extraversion significantly matched British findings (p less than .01). Results for Neuroticism were ambiguous. It is concluded that seasonal and climatic influences are unlikely to explain the Extraversion differences between birth groups.
Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is one of the most widely used statistical procedures in psychological research. It is a classic technique, but statistical research into EFA is still quite active, and various new developments and methods have been presented in recent years. The authors of the most popular statistical packages, however, do not seem very interested in incorporating these new advances. We present the program FACTOR, which was designed as a general, user-friendly program for computing EFA. It implements traditional procedures and indices and incorporates the benefits of some more recent developments. Two of the traditional procedures implemented are polychoric correlations and parallel analysis, the latter of which is considered to be one of the best methods for determining the number of factors or components to be retained. Good examples of the most recent developments implemented in our program are (1) minimum rank factor analysis, which is the only factor method that allows one to compute the proportion of variance explained by each factor, and (2) the simplimax rotation method, which has proved to be the most powerful rotation method available. Of these methods, only polychoric correlations are available in some commercial programs. A copy of the software, a demo, and a short manual can be obtained free of charge from the first author.
Astrology science or superstition? Encounter
- H J Eysenck
Eysenck, H. J. (1979) Astrology science or superstition? Encounter, November, 85 -90.
The importance of methodology in astrological research
- H J Eysenck
Eysenck, H. J. (1981) The importance of methodology in astrological research.
Correlation, 1, 11-14.
Astrology, science or superstition
- H J Eysenck
- D K B Nias
Eysenck, H. J., & Nias, D. K. B. (1982) Astrology, science or superstition? London:
Maurice Temple Smith.
LISREL 8.5: User's Reference Guide
- K Joreskog
- D Sorbom
Joreskog, K., & Sorbom, D. (2001) LISREL 8.5: User's Reference Guide. Chicago:
Scientific Software International.
Astrology and the self-attribution process
- P Lo Iacono
Lo Iacono, P. (1989) Astrology and the self-attribution process. NCGR Research
Journal, Spring Equinox, 17-20.
Zodiac signs and personality: a pilot study
- J Mohan
- A Gulati
Mohan, J., & Gulati, A. (1986) Zodiac signs and personality: a pilot study. Correlation,
6, 11-14.
A method for synthesis of factor analysis studies
- L R Tucker
Tucker, L. R. (1951) A method for synthesis of factor analysis studies. Personnel
Research Section Report No.984, Washington D.C.: Department of the
Army.
- KELLY