The content and structure of schizotypy: a study using confirmatory factor analysis

This study examined the content of subscales within a multidimensional scale of self-reported schizotypy and their subsequent interrelationship by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Neither single-factor nor four-factor models provided good fits to the data; two-factor and three-factor models showed very good fits. On closer look, the three-factor solution was, overall, marginally the best fit and gave credence to a model with positive schizotypy, negative schizotypy, and social impairment as the factors. This model was in contrast to those that have disorganization as the third factor. In the present study, the subscale of disorganization loaded on the factor of positive schizotypy. The three-factor solution proposed here may be seen as giving support to the structures advocated by Meehl (1962), Strauss et al. (1974), and Lenzenweger et al. (1991).