The Universality of Typology: A Comparison between English and Japanese Schoolchildren

Summary A study was undertaken comparing the responses of schoolchildren (ages 10–15 years) in Japan (N = 1091) with those in England (N = 2320) on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Factor analyses showed that identical factors could be found in both samples, corresponding to P (psychoticism), E (extraversion), N (neuroticism), and L (a Lie or dissimulation factor, also often interpreted as a factor measuring conformity). Several items in each factor showed a lack of correspondence in loading pattern between the countries and had to be substituted by others in order to obtain scales useful for measurement of personality in Japan. Reduced scales were also constructed from items having similar loading patterns for the two countries, and comparisons made between the two groups on these scales. Japanese children had very significantly higher P scores, but did not differ appreciably with respect to E, N, and L from English children.